Director, Operations
Flex · Illinois
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 15+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at Flex (industrial) in Illinois.
- They ask for
- 15+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, ISO 13485, FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $100k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 17 live postings that list pay, out of 33 production engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 32 other live production postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (15+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$150k, from 17 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 48%
- Team leadership 33%
- Root cause 27%
- Six Sigma 27%
- 5S 27%
- EHS / safety 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for ISO 13485, FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Flex
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from FlexAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
To support our extraordinary team who build great products and contribute to our growth, we’re looking to add a Director, Operations located in Buffalo Grove , Illinois.
Reporting to the General Manager the Director, Operations who is in charge of managing day-to-day operations and core functions of operations to achieve and maintain operational excellence.
The experience we’re looking to add to our team
- ✓Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred .
- ✓10–15 years of manufacturing experience, with 3–5+ years in a Director-level Operations role within Medical Devices or other regulated industries .
- ✓Proven experience leading operations under FDA, ISO 13485, GMP , and customer audits.
- ✓Demonstrated success delivering measurable results while maintaining high quality and compliance standards .
- ✓Strong P&L ownership and financial discipline in regulated manufacturing environments.
- ✓Hands-on experience with assembly, high speed automation, and validated manufacturing processes .
- ✓Deep experience managing NPIs, process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and design transfer .
- ✓Ability to lead multi-shift operations with a strong safety and quality mindset.
- ✓Experience scaling operations while maintaining patient safety and regulatory integrity .
- ✓Strong cross-functional leadership with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Regulatory teams .
- ✓Lean Daily management experience
- ✓Application lean tools experience
- ✓We are looking for a humble, secure, persistent, data driven and high energy leader and a good mentor.
KR13
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world.
A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.
What a typical day looks like
- •Guarantee production, delivery in full, on time and in specifications, required by customers, at the most cutthroat cost.
- •Define operational financial goals.
- •Operational business experience including a successful performance track record managing staff and P&L.
- •Establish and communicate Business Unit goals and assignments.
- •Define and execute operational programs in line with strategic plans and annual operating goals.
- •Meet with Executive Business at least monthly to review and evaluate KOI's.
- •Attend quarterly business reviews with key customers.
- •Partner with other business to establish strategic plans and goals.
- •Direct and control the activities on purchasing business, production control, planning, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, maintenance, manufacturing and logistics.
- •Implement appropriate HR strategies and actions to recruit and retain a qualified and motivated workforce.
What you'll receive for the great work you provide
- •Full range of medical, dental, and vision plans
- •Life Insurance
- •Short-term and Long-term Disability
- •Matching 401(k) Contributions
- •Vacation and Paid Sick Time
- •Tuition Reimbursement