Edwards Lifesciences

Senior Director, Plant Operations

Edwards Lifesciences  •  Draper, UT (Onsite)  •  11 hours ago
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Job Description

Imagine how your ideas andexpertisecan change a patient’s life. Our GlobalOperations &Qualityteam plays a central part in ensuring our products are delivered to patients with cardiovascular disease.You’llpartner cross-functionally with manufacturing operations and sales teams, delivering thoughtful solutions to complex challenges all while developing your knowledge of the medical device industry. Whether your work includes strategic inventory planning, labeling, warehouse management, material handling, or any of our other supply chain opportunities, you will be making a meaningful contribution to our team and to patients all over the world.

The Senior Director, Plant Operations is accountable for end-to-end site performance, leading all manufacturing, engineering, and site support functions to deliver on safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

This role serves as the site leader with full ownership of daily execution, workforce development, operational strategy, and engineering integration. The leader ensures stable and compliant operations while building a high-performing, engaged culture and a strong foundation for future site growth.

How you'll make an impact:

  • Lead overall plant operations, ensuring safe, compliant, and uninterrupted manufacturing execution
  • Own delivery of core metrics: Safety, Quality, Delivery (MPS/PvA), Cost (absorption), Inventory, and Capacity
  • Drive execution of production plans, ensuring line capacity, staffing alignment, and schedule adherence
  • Establish daily management systems to identify and resolve operational issues rapidly
  • Maintain full accountability for site performance, escalation, and recovery execution
  • Lead both operations and engineering organizations as one integrated system
  • Ensure engineering provides:
    • Daily manufacturing support and issue resolution
    • Process stability, capability, and compliance
    • Continuous improvement through yield, cycle time, and cost optimization
  • Ensure strong execution of RCA, CAPA, validation, and change control processes
  • Build technical depth across teams, including operators, technicians, and engineers
  • Ensure site readiness to support growth, product transfers, and operational scaling
  • Balance short-term execution with long-term capability building
  • Lead site-level portfolio of strategic initiatives (e.g., BEx, TOPP, Site relocation, NPI introduction, automation)
  • Identify risks early and implement mitigation plans across cross-functional teams
  • Drive a Lean / Six Sigma / EPS-based culture of continuous improvement
  • Implement and sustain value stream thinking and waste elimination
  • Own plant financial performance, including:
    • Cost management and productivity
    • Capital planning and deployment
    • Budget adherence and expense prioritization
  • Optimize resource allocation across labor, equipment, and materials
  • Ensure alignment between financial targets and operational plans
  • Build and lead a high-performing, engaged organization across operations and engineering
  • Establish strong technical training programs for operators and engineers
  • Drive a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning
  • Provide coaching, feedback, and performance management across all levels
  • Partner with Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and PEGs to ensure alignment
  • Align with other plants to drive standardization and best practice sharing
  • Ensure full compliance with regulatory, quality, and EHS requirements
  • Champion a zero-injury, safety-first culture
  • Maintain readiness for audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews
  • Ensure environmental compliance and sustainable operations
  • Direct oversight of:
    • Manufacturing Operations
    • Manufacturing Engineering / Process Engineering
    • Production Support functions (as applicable)
  • Manage through managers/supervisors with selective direct reports
  • Balance hands-on leadership with strategic direction

What you'll need (Required):

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field
  • Progressive experience in manufacturing leadership (operations + engineering)
  • Demonstrated success leading plant operations or equivalent functional scope
  • Strong financial acumen and track record of delivering operational results

What else we look for (Preferred):

  • MBA or Master's degree in Engineering Management
  • At least 14 years of related experience
  • Experience working in a regulated industry, medical device industry
  • Experience working with Metals
  • Proven leadership of cross-functional manufacturing organizations
  • Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and production systems (EPS)
  • Strong financial and operational decision-making capability
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder influence at all levels
  • Ability to lead in a dynamic, scaling environment

E dwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.

COVID Vaccination Requirement

Edwards is committed to protecting our vulnerable patients and the healthcare providers who are treating them. As such, all patient-facing and in-hospital positions require COVID-19 vaccination. If hired into a covered role, as a condition of employment, you will be required to submit proof that you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you request and are granted a medical or religious accommodation for exemption from the vaccination requirement. This vaccination requirement does not apply in locations where it is prohibited by law to impose vaccination.

Edwards Lifesciences

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW), is the leading global structural heart innovation company, driven by a passion to improve patient lives. Through breakthrough technologies, world-class evidence and partnerships with clinicians and healthcare stakeholders, our employees are inspired by our patient-focused culture to deliver life-changing innovations to those who need them most.

We thrive on discovery and expanding the boundaries of medical technology, serving patients in 100+ countries, with the help of our employees in areas including Clinical Affairs, Quality Engineering, Research & Development, Regulatory Affairs, Sales & Marketing, corporate functions and more. 

Contact Us

We want to hear from you and engage in meaningful discussions. However, please note that we are not equipped to provide customer, candidate, or technical support through this platform. If you require assistance from those teams, please find their contact information here: https://www.edwards.com/aboutus/contactus

If you’re a patient in need of medical advice, please contact your healthcare provider directly. We reserve the right to remove any comments that are off-topic, repetitive, or include hate speech, profanity, or offensive language. Additionally, we will not engage in discussions about competitor products, off-label use of Edwards products, or unsubstantiated/misleading claims that could cause harm.

All Terms and Conditions of LinkedIn apply. For the Edwards Lifesciences privacy policy, visit https://www.edwards.com/legal/privacypolicy.

Industry
Manufacturing & Production
Company Size
10,000+ employees
Headquarters
Irvine, CA
Year Founded
1958
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