Transformation Director

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Manufacturing Transformation to lead the next stage of our manufacturing evolution.

This is a strategic executive leadership position responsible for transforming our manufacturing operations into a world-class, digitally enabled, high-performance organisation. The successful candidate will lead operational excellence initiatives, modernise manufacturing systems, improve productivity and quality, and build a scalable manufacturing capability that supports the company's long-term growth.

Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and the Executive Team, you will drive continuous improvement while maintaining the flexibility, innovation, and customer focus that define our business

Key Responsibilities

As the Director of Manufacturing Transformation, you will:

Manufacturing Strategy & Transformation

• Develop and execute the company's long-term Manufacturing Transformation Strategy.
• Create and maintain a Manufacturing Master Plan aligned with business objectives.
• Lead organisation-wide manufacturing transformation initiatives.
• Improve productivity, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Increase manufacturing capacity and scalability.
• Reduce manufacturing lead times and improve gross margins.
• Establish world-class manufacturing standards and best practices.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence

• Design and implement robust manufacturing systems and processes.
• Standardise production workflows, procedures, and documentation.
• Improve production scheduling, capacity planning, and material flow.
• Optimise factory layout and workstation design.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Implement Root Cause Analysis and corrective action processes.

Production Engineering & Industrialisation

• Lead Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) initiatives.
• Oversee New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Improve manufacturing validation and process capability.
• Drive product modularisation and assembly optimisation.
• Partner with Engineering to ensure products are designed for efficient manufacturing without compromising quality or reliability.

Digital Manufacturing

• Lead the implementation and optimisation of ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Introduce barcode traceability and electronic work instructions.
• Develop real-time production dashboards and reporting systems.
• Implement digital quality management and manufacturing analytics.
• Support Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory initiatives.

Automation & Technology

• Identify automation opportunities that improve productivity, quality, and safety.
• Implement automated testing, digital inspection, production monitoring, and manufacturing data capture.
• Evaluate robotics and semi-automated assembly solutions appropriate for a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Quality Assurance to improve manufacturing quality and reliability.
• Improve First Pass Yield (FPY), reduce non-conformances, and support CAPA initiatives.
• Drive supplier quality improvements and manufacturing audits.
• Reduce warranty costs through process improvement and manufacturing excellence.

Supply Chain & Procurement

• Collaborate with Procurement to improve supplier performance and capability.
• Support strategic sourcing and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Improve inventory management and material availability.
• Lead value engineering and cost reduction initiatives.

Leadership & People Development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing manufacturing leadership team.
• Coach Production Managers, Manufacturing Engineers, Supervisors, and Team Leaders.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Lead organisational change through effective communication and stakeholder engagement.

Performance Management

• Develop and monitor manufacturing KPIs including:
• Productivity
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
• Labour efficiency
• First Pass Yield (FPY)
• On-time delivery
• Manufacturing lead time
• Capacity utilisation
• Inventory turns
• Supplier performance
• Warranty costs
• Present monthly strategic performance reports and improvement plans to the Executive Leadership Team.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years' experience in manufacturing leadership, including senior management roles.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale manufacturing transformation programs.
• Strong experience in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement.
• Proven experience implementing ERP and MES systems.
• Experience in production engineering, industrialisation, and New Product Introduction (NPI).
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

• MBA or Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or Business.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or equivalent).
• PMP or other project management certification.
• Experience with Industry 4.0, Digital Manufacturing, Smart Factory technologies, and manufacturing automation.

Highly Desirable Industry Experience

Experience in one or more of the following industries:

• Power Electronics
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• UPS Systems
• Renewable Energy
• Industrial Electrical Equipment
• Defence Manufacturing
• Mining Equipment
• High-Reliability Electronics
• Heavy Industrial Manufacturing
• Advanced Manufacturing

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a transformational leader who is:

• Strategic and commercially focused.
• Practical and hands-on.
• Systems-oriented and highly organised.
• Analytical and data-driven.
• Passionate about manufacturing excellence.
• A strong mentor and people developer.
• Comfortable leading organisational change.
• Collaborative and capable of influencing across all levels of the business.
• Calm under pressure with excellent decision-making skills.

Success in This Role

Within your first 12 months, you will be expected to:

• Complete a Manufacturing Maturity Assessment.
• Develop a five-year Manufacturing Transformation Roadmap.
• Standardise manufacturing processes across production areas.
• Establish factory-wide KPIs and executive dashboards.
• Improve manufacturing productivity by at least 15%.
• Reduce manufacturing lead times by at least 20%.
• Support ERP and MES optimisation.
• Introduce digital manufacturing and barcode traceability.
• Improve product standardisation and modularisation.
• Strengthen the manufacturing leadership team through coaching and development.

Why Join Us?

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the transformation of a growing Australian manufacturer at the forefront of advanced power electronics and battery energy storage solutions. As the Director of Manufacturing Transformation, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the company's manufacturing strategy, driving operational excellence, and building a world-class, digitally enabled manufacturing organisation.

You will work alongside a highly experienced leadership team, influence strategic business decisions, and lead initiatives that enhance productivity, quality, innovation, and long-term business growth. Your expertise will directly contribute to delivering reliable, high-performance energy solutions that support industries across Australia and international markets.

If you are a visionary and results-driven manufacturing leader with a passion for operational excellence, digital transformation, continuous improvement, and developing high-performing teams, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of advanced manufacturing.