Director of Overseas Manufacturing

The role

This leader will manage manufacturing strategy and execution across an overseas partner network. You will bridge the gap between design teams in Mahwah and manufacturing partners in China to ensure product quality and manufacturability.

What you will do

• Lead manufacturing strategy and execution across the overseas partner network
• Partner with Product Development and Industrial Design teams on manufacturability and cost
• Align factory SOPs, assembly procedures, and quality control standards
• Maintain a presence on assembly lines to drive continuous improvement
• Build reporting systems for yield, quality performance, and production trends
• Lead root-cause investigations using 8D, 5-Why, or Fishbone methods
• Resolve complex production challenges regarding quality, cost, and delivery
• Build and develop a team of manufacturing and quality engineers
• Evaluate and develop new manufacturing partnerships and capacity
• Drive manufacturing cost and efficiency to improve profitability

Required qualifications

• 10-15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• Direct, hands-on experience running or closely overseeing factory floor operations
• Track record of improving product quality, yield, and profitability
• Working-level understanding of injection molding, sheet metal, electromechanical assembly, and tooling processes
• Background in structured root-cause problem solving
• Experience developing and aligning SOPs across multiple factory sites
• Strong reporting and documentation discipline
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively to China, including extended stays
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

Nice to have

• Significant tenure at a single organization producing consumer electronics, small appliances, or similar consumer hardware products
• Mandarin fluency
• Experience with connected/IoT consumer products

Benefits

• Relocation assistance to the Mahwah, NJ area
• Potential sign-on bonus
• Competitive compensation
• International travel support
• Opportunity to build and lead a growing team

About the company

Chefman is one of North America's leading brands of small kitchen appliances. They launched CHEF iQ, an ecosystem of connected smart kitchen appliances.