Director of Maintenance and Tooling

Title: Director of Maintenance and Tooling Location: Neptune, NJ Schedule: M-F Full Time Type: Direct Hire Responsibilities: Strategic leader responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of a manufacturing facility. This leadership position requires a unique combination of technical expertise in both equipment maintenance and injection molding/extrusion tooling, coupled with strong leadership and strategic planning skills. You'll be responsible for maximizing uptime of machinery, optimizing tool performance, and leading a team to achieve these goals. The Senior Director of Maintenance and Tooling is responsible for overseeing the maintenance department. Develop and implement a comprehensive preventive maintenance program specifically tailored to injection molding and extrusion equipment, minimizing downtime and extending equipment life. Oversee all aspects of equipment maintenance, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation for technicians, mechanics, and planners. Ensure technicians are highly trained in troubleshooting and repairing injection molding and extrusion machinery. Implement and enforce safety protocols specific to the injection molding and extrusion environment. Stay informed on the latest maintenance technologies and best practices for injection molding and extrusion equipment, recommending and implementing upgrades when beneficial. Analyze maintenance data to identify trends, optimize maintenance schedules, and identify areas for improvement. Develop and manage a program for mold and die maintenance, repair, and replacement within the injection molding and extrusion processes. Ensure molds and dies are designed, maintained, and used effectively to optimize production efficiency, minimize part defects, and maintain dimensional tolerances. Collaborate closely with engineering to ensure new molds and dies meet production requirements, manufacturability, and maintainability. Oversee the budget for tooling needs, including procurement, preventative maintenance, repairs, and replacements. Implement a system for tracking and managing mold and die inventory. Leadership & Collaboration Set strategic goals and objectives for the maintenance and tooling departments, aligning them with overall production goals and quality standards. Create and manage department budgets, considering both capital and operational costs for equipment and tooling. Foster a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and preventative maintenance within the departments. Collaborate effectively with other departments (e.g., production, engineering, quality) to ensure a smooth flow of operations, high-quality parts, and efficient use of tooling. Identify and implement cost-saving measures to optimize both maintenance and tooling operations. Regularly report on department performance to senior management, highlighting key metrics like uptime, scrap rate, and tooling maintenance costs. Stay up to date on industry trends and best practices in injection molding and extrusion maintenance and tooling technologies. Prepares capital project and operating budget and variance reports. Provides process and procedure training. Conducts financial/business analysis including preparation of reports. Recommends staff recruitment, selection, promotion, advancement, corrective action, and termination. Plans and monitors appropriate staffing levels and utilization of labor, including overtime. Prepares and delivers performance appraisals for staff. Mentors and coaches team members to further develop competencies. Leads by example and models behaviors that are consistent with the company’s values. Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field (preferred). Minimum of 10 years of experience in a leadership role within an injection molding or extrusion manufacturing facility. Proven track record of success in managing both equipment maintenance and tooling operations. In-depth understanding of injection molding and extrusion processes, including equipment functionality, troubleshooting, and preventative maintenance practices. Strong knowledge of mold and die design, construction, maintenance, and repair. Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to motivate, inspire, and lead a team. Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and intranet/internet. Ability to use work order system. Working knowledge of architectural, electrical, and mechanical systems. Working knowledge of leases, contracts, and related documents. Proficient in computer software related to maintenance management (CMMS) and potentially tooling management systems. Working knowledge of relevant safety regulations (OSHA, etc.) Experience with project management and budgeting. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and blueprints. Knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Ability to solve problems involving several options in situations. Requires advanced analytical and quantitative skills. Responsible for setting work unit and /or project deadlines.