Head of Manufacturing (Kansas City)

Job Opportunity : Head of Manufacturing

Kitson Human Capital Solutions (on behalf of a confidential client in the life sciences manufacturing sector)

Location : Kansas City, Missouri

Reports To : General Manager, Americas (with close collaboration with France and China affiliates)

Executive Leadership : Member of the U.S. Executive Leadership Team

About the Opportunity

Our client, a rapidly growing organization in the life sciences and advanced manufacturing space, is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to oversee daily operations at a new Kansas City manufacturing facility. This role is ideal for a hands-on operations leader who thrives in scaling environments and is adept at driving performance, developing people, and improving processes in a dynamic and evolving business. As the key on-site leader, you will ensure that production, safety, quality, and cost goals are achieved while laying the foundation for scalable growth.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee daily manufacturing operations to meet or exceed production targets and customer expectations.

Implement and monitor KPIs related to safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.

Coordinate scheduling, resource planning, and materials flow to ensure smooth operations.

Lead, mentor, and develop production staff and support personnel while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Collaborate closely with global affiliates in France and China to align practices and share best-in-class processes.

Identify and execute lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to streamline workflows and reduce waste.

Promote a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.

Partner with the Quality team to ensure adherence to customer specifications and internal standards; lead root cause analysis when issues arise.

Assist leadership in scaling operations, including capital planning, equipment purchases, and facility expansion efforts.

Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Sales to align plant operations with strategic business goals.

Qualifications

5+ years of experience in manufacturing, with 2+ years in a manufacturing leadership or supervisory role.

Proven ability to lead teams in a fast-paced production environment.

Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement tools.

Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.

Bachelors degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field (preferred but not required).

Experience in life sciences manufacturing and operations is highly preferred

The Ideal Candidate

You are a hands-on, entrepreneurial operations leader who thrives in dynamic, high-growth manufacturing environments. You understand the challenges of scaling a new facility and are equally comfortable on the shop floor and in the boardroom. Most importantly, you view operational excellence as a driver of business successenhancing safety, quality, and efficiency to enable sustainable growth.