Sr. Director of Operations (Manufacturing)
Canadian Solar Inc. · Mesquite, TX
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at Canadian Solar Inc. (industrial) in Mesquite, TX. 5)Partner with Ops/Quality/Maintenance to reduce scrap/rework and improve process capability through data-driven improvements.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree preferred · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Kaizen, OEE, Root cause
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Texas: typical posted base $105k–$156k.
Median of the low and high ends of 24 live postings that list pay, out of 110 production engineer openings in Texas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Texas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 109 other live production postings in Texas.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $98k–$153k, from 22 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 39%
- ✓ Lean 33%
- ✓ Root cause 28%
- New product launch 21%
- ✓ Six Sigma 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Black Belt, Kaizen, OEE, Time studies, 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 Canadian Solar Inc.
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?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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 Canadian Solar Inc.As posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
Master Planning
1)Build and continuously improve planning parameters and master data discipline (lead times, yields, routings, pack specs, MOQ, constraints).
2)Lead exception-based planning for disruptions (material shortages, downtime, quality holds) and execute rapid re-planning with cross-functional alignment.
3)Establish and lead the multi-site planning operating system (S&OP cadence, supply reviews, capacity reviews, plan governance).
4)Own the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and weekly/monthly rolling plan, including freeze windows, change control, and escalation.
5)Drive capacity planning (RCCP) and bottleneck management; align shift patterns, labor availability, maintenance windows, and line readiness.
Logistics
1)Lead inbound/outbound logistics operations across three sites, including carrier strategy and (if applicable) 3PL governance.
2)Optimize transportation cost, load planning, routing, consolidation, and shipping cycle times; manage detention/demurrage where applicable.
3)Ensure compliance with shipping documentation, trade compliance (as applicable), and customer packaging/labeling requirements.
Order Fulfillment
1)Own end-to-end order fulfillment governance from order release to shipment and delivery performance; ensure transparency and accountability.
2)Define and enforce ATP/CTP logic, allocation rules, priority framework, and escalation process to protect plant stability while meeting customer commitments.
3)Partner with Sales/Commercial and Customer Service to translate demand into executable supply signals without creating production disruption.
4)Manage backlog health, expedite controls, customer-critical order war room processes, and root cause closure for misses.
5)Establish reporting dashboards (OTIF, backlog aging, lead time, expedite rate) and drive corrective actions to improve reliability.
Industrial Engineering (IE)
1)Own IE strategy across sites: line balancing, standard work, labor standards, takt/cycle time optimization, OEE improvement.
2)Lead productivity initiatives: layout optimization, material flow design, ergonomics, automation feasibility, and indirect labor optimization.
3)Build labor models and staffing plans aligned with the master schedule; quantify productivity targets and savings.
4)Drive structured problem solving (A3/8D), Kaizen programs, and sustainment mechanisms to prevent regression.
5)Partner with Ops/Quality/Maintenance to reduce scrap/rework and improve process capability through data-driven improvements.
Special Projects / Transformation
1)Lead cross-site transformation initiatives (ERP/MES/WMS enhancements, planning system upgrades, operational standardization).
2)Own project governance: charters, milestones, ROI/business cases, risk/issue management (RAID), and executive reporting.
3)Drive ramp-up readiness programs (new lines, new products, capacity expansion) with clear deliverables across people/process/equipment/material.
4)Lead cross-functional integration projects (e.g., organizational redesign, cross-site operating model, KPI system harmonization).
5)Ensure sustainable change adoption through training, SOP updates, and audit mechanisms.
Required Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field (Master's preferred).
- ✓10+ years in manufacturing operations leadership; experience leading planning + logistics + IE is strongly preferred.
- ✓Proven ability to run multi-site operations cadence and deliver measurable improvements in delivery, cost, and productivity.
- ✓Strong toolkit: Lean manufacturing, standard work, constraint management, root cause analysis; strong data/KPI governance.
- ✓Demonstrated stakeholder management across Sales/Commercial, Planning, Ops, Quality, and Finance.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Experience in high-volume discrete manufacturing (e.g., solar/module/cell, electronics, automotive, battery).
- ✓ERP/MES implementation or transformation program experience.
- ✓Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt) or equivalent CI leadership.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Job Description
Primary
Leadership Competencies
- •High rigor, strong execution discipline, and clear accountability management.
- •Ability to balance customer promise with plant stability; strong decision-making under constraints.
- •Change leadership and talent development across functions and sites.
- •Executive-level communication and structured reporting.
