Director of Manufacturing Operations

WHY WE NEED YOU:

At WAZER, we're creating tools that empower individuals to turn ideas into functional projects and goods. We’ve begun this mission by creating the first desktop waterjet - an affordable digital tool that allows users to cut any material with one easy-to-use machine. To continue this mission and expansion, we need a talented Director of Manufacturing Operations.

At WAZER, we have a very vertically integrated operation where part flow begins with our team and facility in Shenzhen, China. Our amazing team there manages the manufacturing of over 400 parts, 100+ suppliers, and 30+ subassemblies. Once completed on a full container batch basis, these parts and subassemblies are shipped over to the US for the final production and assembly of our machines. These freshly assembled machines are immediately shipped to distributors and to end consumers directly from our facility.

We are looking for a manufacturing operations generalist with production management skills to run WAZER’s manufacturing operations. You will ensure the entire operation is flowing according to plan and timelines are being met by all parties to not create unexpected bottlenecks or issues. And when they do occur you will be evaluating solutions and executing on them. You will be the primary executor for operations projects. In addition, you will be managing the production assemblers in the US and set the entire US-based operation’s flow and schedule based on the sales demand.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Production Line Management

  • Conduct hiring and onboarding for each US production employee

  • Manage a crew of 6-10x production personnel to achieve production targets

  • Reconcile production performance and set weekly goals for team

  • Enforce compliance to all company policies

  • Maintain an active pulse of the line with regular group and personal check-ins

  • Process payroll and other general HR activities as needed

General Operations

  • Based on company sales demand, US production rates, and timing, generate requested arrival times of parts and assemblies from our overseas team

  • With the help of our MRP software, monitor and forecast inventory requirements across hundreds of parts, and multiple locations and warehouses

  • Maintain the correct usage of our custom MRP system across the entire team and be the go-to resource for its usage. Contributing to its evolution/development over time.

  • Maintain all company operation SOPs and flowcharts. Manage new creation when needed and conformance when appropriate.

  • Develop new procedures and work flows to increase efficiency, decrease costs, etc.

Team Collaboration/Interfacing

  • Design and build up WAZER’s operations system alongside CTO

  • Link between Manufacturing and Sales teams to forecast lead times for finished goods and set US-based production line goals

  • Work with our Overseas Operations Director to set their schedule of container deliverables in order to meet US-based production goals

  • Be an advisor and collaborator to overseas operations when manufacturing of parts doesn’t go according to plan

  • Work with our Sales Operations Specialist to ensure on-time fulfillment of finished goods

Facility

  • Manage facility improvement projects

  • Maintain facility systems (ie. security, fire, water/leak detection, etc)

  • Manage warehouse and production floor organization and flow

Must-Have Requirements:

  • A love for hardware

  • Highly values and integrates process into their daily work that begins with needs and problem identification, NOT with brainstorming solutions.

  • Strong project management and organizational software tool usage

  • Excellent personal AND professional communicator

  • Excellent production personnel management

  • A love for solving operational and flow issues within a company (i.e. data, parts, SOPs, personnel, etc.). Not one to complain about issues, but view them as exciting operational challenges to solve and efficiencies to gain!

  • Excited to “roll up your sleeves” whenever an operations opportunity arises. An operational, process driven doer, NOT project manager and delegator. You will be responsible for being the sole or collaborative executor on projects.

  • Strong attention to detail and foresight to potential operational problems based on clues, analogous/valid experience, and observed trends.

  • Very strong computer literacy (i.e. file systems, databases, charting, presentations, pseudocode)

  • Ability to evaluate project value, cross departmental integration, and tradeoffs based on the company at large, not just a sole department

Minimum Likely Experience Required to Fulfill Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Likes to learn by doing and wearing many hats throughout the day

  • 5+ years of supply chain operations and MRP/ERP software usage on a daily basis

  • 2+ years of managing US-based manufacturing personnel

  • Working at a hardware startup of 10-30 people

  • Understanding of invoicing and accounting processes

COMPENSATION:

Compensation includes salary, equity, performance and company-wide bonuses, paid time off and health benefits.

LOCATION & ENVIRONMENT:

You’ll be working in an environment that is simultaneously our office, ideation studio, research lab, workshop, and final product assembly center, all under one roof. This allows us to collaborate and learn each other’s area of expertise, providing better solutions to our customers.

Our facility becomes a playground in the off hours. You are encouraged to design, make, and work on whatever personal projects you may have at the time. You will see electric vehicles, race car parts, plants, and art pieces around the office. Who knows what inspiration we use for the next problem we need to solve at WAZER!

APPLY:

To apply, write us a quick explanation about why you think you would be a good fit for this role.  Resume and references are always welcome.