Director of Manufacturing

Job Title: Director of Manufacturing Location: Sacramento, CA (on-site; relocation available) Pay: $155,000-$185,000 per year Company Information: Athena Ag supports the modern grower at any scale. The company's operating philosophy is to improve quality, reduce costs, drive consistency, and make the complex simple through disciplined products, procedures, technical support, and hands-on facility guidance. We continue to invest in the people, systems, and technology that support our rapidly growing portfolio of products and brands. About the Role: Athena is seeking a Director of Manufacturing to lead safe, reliable, and efficient production as our business grows. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you’ll own manufacturing performance across safety, quality, production planning, cost, equipment reliability, and team development. This role calls for a technically capable leader who can move comfortably between operational planning and hands-on problem-solving. You’ll develop supervisors and production teams, strengthen manufacturing processes, and adapt quickly as demand, materials, and equipment availability change. What You’ll Do: Manufacturing Leadership: Lead manufacturing operations, production teams, and day-to-day execution, with clear expectations for safety, quality, service, and cost. Production Planning: Own production planning, scheduling, capacity, and staffing; adjust priorities quickly and communicate changes to downstream teams. Performance and Cost Management: Establish manufacturing KPIs, analyze performance, and manage budgets, labor efficiency, operating costs, and throughput. Continuous Improvement: Lead Lean and continuous improvement initiatives that reduce waste, resolve recurring problems, and improve quality and productivity. Equipment Reliability: Assess operational risks, troubleshoot production issues, and partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability. Team Development: Hire, coach, and develop supervisors and production employees while building engagement and accountability. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Distribution, Product Development, and Operations to align production with business needs. Capacity and Growth: Support new equipment, automation, product launches, and manufacturing processes that expand capacity and support continued growth. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, technical training, and relevant manufacturing leadership experience. At least 10 years of progressively responsible manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years leading manufacturing operations, supervisors, and production teams at comparable scale and complexity. Experience managing production planning, scheduling, capacity, staffing, and day-to-day execution while responding to changes in demand, materials, and equipment availability. Demonstrated success using Lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement methods to improve safety, quality, throughput, labor efficiency, and cost. Experience managing manufacturing budgets, labor and operating costs, and performance metrics, with the ability to analyze results and implement corrective actions. Experience implementing workplace safety practices, standard operating procedures, and quality management systems in a manufacturing environment. Experience partnering with Maintenance and Engineering to troubleshoot equipment, improve reliability, and implement equipment or process improvements. Experience using ERP or manufacturing planning systems and data analysis tools to support production decisions, inventory accuracy, and performance reporting. Experience hiring, coaching, and developing supervisors and production employees, managing performance, and leading …

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