Position Overview

This is not a traditional plant operations role.

Sapphire is seeking a hands-on operations leader who has helped scale complex engineered products from low-volume production into scalable, industrialized manufacturing operations. The mandate is to help build the operational engine required to support aggressive growth over the next several years, including manufacturing scale-up, contract manufacturing, supply chain development, production readiness, and operational execution.

The products are highly engineered electro-mechanical systems requiring operational sophistication, cross-functional integration, and disciplined manufacturing scale-up—not high-volume commodity production.

This role is best suited for someone who has operated in high-growth manufacturing environments where products, processes, teams, and operational infrastructure were being built in real time—not simply maintained within mature operations.

The successful candidate will have experience building structure, processes, and operational discipline within fast-growing manufacturing environments while balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

Position Overview

The Operations Leader will oversee manufacturing operations, supply chain, production planning, contract manufacturing relationships, quality systems, and operational scale-up initiatives.

This individual will partner closely with Engineering and executive leadership to industrialize production, improve operational readiness, strengthen supplier and manufacturing capabilities, and support the transition into significantly higher production volumes.

The role requires a leader capable of integrating manufacturing, sourcing, operations, and engineering into a scalable operating model capable of supporting rapid commercial growth.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Scale-Up & Industrialization
Build scalable manufacturing operations supporting rapid growth of complex engineered systems.
Lead production readiness, throughput planning, operational ramp-up, process development, and manufacturing scalability initiatives.
Establish operational processes and infrastructure required to support higher-volume production.
Contract Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Lead contract manufacturing strategy and outsourced production relationships, including supplier selection, readiness, quality, delivery performance, and cost management.
Build and strengthen supply chain capabilities supporting increasingly complex material and production requirements.
Develop sourcing and operational risk mitigation strategies aligned with long-term growth objectives.
Operational Expansion & Execution
Support production line build-outs, manufacturing expansion initiatives, and operational scaling efforts.
Help establish scalable manufacturing workflows, operational systems, staffing structures, and production processes.
Drive operational discipline, execution cadence, and performance accountability across the organization.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Partner closely with Engineering to ensure manufacturability and successful transition from product development into scalable production.
Work cross-functionally with executive leadership, program management, and commercial teams to align operational execution with customer requirements and growth objectives.
Help build the operational structure, leadership capability, and organizational discipline required for scale.
Quality & Operational Systems
Implement and strengthen quality systems, manufacturing KPIs, operational reporting, and process controls.
Support development of scalable operational disciplines across manufacturing, planning, supply chain, and production.
Operational Expansion & Execution
Build a scalable manufacturing and operational roadmap aligned with aggressive growth targets.
Strengthen contract manufacturing and supplier capabilities to support production scale-up.
Improve operational readiness, throughput planning, execution discipline, and manufacturing scalability.
Establish operational structure and processes capable of supporting rapid commercial growth.
Become a trusted operational leader capable of driving execution in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.

Qualifications

Candidate Profile - Experience & Background
15+ years of operations, manufacturing, industrialization, or supply chain leadership experience within complex manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated success scaling manufacturing operations during periods of rapid growth, commercialization, or operational build-out.
Experience launching or expanding manufacturing operations, production lines, or major capacity expansion initiatives.
Strong experience leading contract manufacturing, outsourced production, or global manufacturing partnerships.
Background within complex electro-mechanical systems, industrial equipment, power systems, energy technology, thermal management, automotive-adjacent manufacturing, or other engineered products environments.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field required.
Technical & Operational Competencies
Strong understanding of manufacturing scale-up, industrialization, production planning, throughput optimization, and operational readiness.
Experience integrating manufacturing, supply chain, sourcing, and engineering functions within high-growth environments.
Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, operational excellence, and quality systems.
Experience with ERP systems, operational metrics, and manufacturing process improvement.
Experience supporting medium-volume production of highly engineered systems strongly preferred.
Leadership Profile
Hands-on builder comfortable operating in entrepreneurial and rapidly changing environments.
Able to balance strategic leadership with tactical execution.
Strong communicator and cross-functional partner capable of building alignment across technical and operational teams.
Demonstrated ability to build teams, operational processes, and organizational structure during periods of scale-up and growth.

Benefits

We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees. Eligible team members receive paid vacation, paid sick time, comprehensive health benefits, and participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. This role is based in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where teamwork, reliability, safety, and attention to detail are essential to success.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned, by their supervisor. Management reserves the right to change, rescind, add or delete the duties and responsibilities of positions within this job classification at any time.

Sapphire Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation and benefits and also states that retaliation against any employee who files a complaint regarding possible violations of this policy will not be tolerated.

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