Vice President of Manufacturing

About Nautique Boat Company 

With over 100 years of excellence, Nautique Boat Company, a subsidiary of Correct Craft, is recognized globally for building the world’s finest ski and wake boats. Since 1925, we’ve led the marine industry through innovation, superior craftsmanship, and a dedication to quality.

Beyond our boats, we’re driven by purpose. Through Nautique Cares, we contribute to causes both locally and around the globe improving that performance, people, and philanthropy go hand-in-hand. Learn more at www.nautique.com. 

Summary:  

The Vice President of Manufacturing is responsible for the overall leadership, direction, and performance of the company's manufacturing operations. This role ensures the organization consistently achieves its goals related to safety, quality, productivity, cost management, and employee development while delivering exceptional products to customers.

As a member of the Executive Team, the Vice President of Manufacturing works closely with Product Development & Design, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Human Resources, and Finance to drive operational excellence, support business growth, and execute the company's strategic objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

 Strategic Leadership

• Provide   leadership and direction for all manufacturing functions, including but not limited to Composites, Upholstery, Assembly, and supporting operations.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies that support the company's short- and long-term business goals.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing leaders to build a strong and sustainable leadership pipelin

Operational Management

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to ensure production goals, quality standards, and delivery commitments are achieved.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, productivity, throughput, and waste reduction.
• Monitor operational performance metrics and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Ensure effective production planning and resource allocation to meet customer demand.

Quality Excellence

• Partner with Quality and executive leadership to ensure manufacturing operations align with enterprise quality standards, operational excellence objectives, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Own performance against key quality metrics, including FPY, COPQ, defects, and customer quality. 
• Drive reduction of systemic quality issues through effective CAPA. 
• Champion continuous improvement to improve process capability, efficiency, and defect prevention. 
• Ensure data-driven decision-making through standardized metrics and reporting. 
• Collaborate to align manufacturing with other departments.
• Allocate resources to support quality systems, training, and capability development. 
• Lead and reinforce a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement. 
• Continuously improve manufacturing processes to reduce defects, rework, and warranty-related costs.

Safety and Compliance

• Champion a safe work environment and reinforce compliance with all safety regulations and company policies.
• Lead initiatives to improve workplace safety performance and reduce incidents.
• Ensure compliance with applicable environmental, regulatory, and operational requirements.

Financial Performance

• Develop and manage manufacturing budgets, capital expenditures, and operating expenses.
• Drive initiatives to improve cost efficiency while maintaining product quality and operational effectiveness.
• Evaluate capital investment opportunities and support long-range manufacturing planning.
• Monitor and optimize manufacturing-related labor and material utilization, identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and control costs associated with production operations, including scrap, rework, and shop supply consumption.

Talent Development

• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
• Partner with Human Resources to attract, retain, and develop top talent.
• Build strong employee relations and promote a positive workplace culture.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Product Development, and other departments to support new product launches and operational improvements.
• Provide manufacturing expertise during strategic planning and business   decision-making processes.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Performs similar or related duties as assigned.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and responsibilities at any time, with or without notice. 

KEY JOB REQUIREMENT:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master’s Degree preferred. 
• Ten or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including responsibility for multiple operational functions. Significant experience leading large manufacturing teams within a complex production environment. Experience in marine manufacturing or related industries such as automotive, aerospace, recreational vehicles, or consumer durables preferred. Demonstrated success driving operational improvements, cost reductions, quality enhancements, and workforce development initiatives. 

REQUIRED LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, REGISTRATIONS:

• Preferred certifications   include Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt),   Certified Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Supply Chain   Professional (CSCP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or other relevant   manufacturing, operations, quality, or leadership certifications.

JOB RELATED KNOWLEDGE:

• Multiple Professional Skills/External Expert: Requires broad or highly specialized expertise, strong integration of complex information, and the ability to influence major organizational direction or decisions. 
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, including composites fabrication, upholstery operations, and final assembly.
• Proven leadership and team development capabilities.
• Excellent business and financial acumen.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

 This position operates in both an office and manufacturing environment, with regular presence required in manufacturing areas. The role involves frequent walking throughout production facilities, exposure to typical manufacturing conditions such as noise, dust, chemicals, and varying temperatures, and compliance with all safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. Occasional travel and flexible work hours may be necessary to support operational and business needs. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Nautique Boat Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Nautique Boat Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a position, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. Nautique Boat Company engages in an interactive process with applicants and employees to identify reasonable accommodations.