Director of Manufacturing

COMPANY HISTORY

Benchmade's journey began in California in 1979, initially known as Bali-Song. Founded by Les de Asis, the company aimed to create high-quality butterfly knives, or balisongs, exceeding the poorly made ones available then. Their first design, the Model 68, was a success and won Blade Magazine's "Knife of the Year" award that same year.

The company went through some name changes in the early 1980s before settling on Benchmade in 1988. They also relocated to Oregon in 1990, establishing a strong presence there. While still known for their balisongs (trademarked as "Bali-Song"), Benchmade has widely diversified their offerings.

Benchmade's focus has always been on innovation and quality and use top-tier materials and manufacturing techniques while emphasizing American-made craftsmanship. Today, Benchmade is a major knife manufacturer in Oregon, renowned for its wide range of folding knives, fixed blades, and other cutting tools for various uses. Their dedication to quality and innovation has secured their place as a leader in the knife industry.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Guided by a high-growth mindset and unwavering customer focus, the Director of Manufacturing will lead all manufacturing operations, translating strategic objectives into actionable results while refining and driving operational excellence. This pivotal role ensures the company achieves its aggressive growth targets through transformative leadership, fostering a culture of innovation, responsiveness, and customer-centricity. The Director will champion manufacturing excellence both internally and externally, driving the company’s reputation for superior quality, service, and performance.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of managing high-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments and will excel at building operational capabilities for growth. They will thrive in dynamic, fast-paced settings, demonstrating the ability to power through challenges with a hands-on, solution-driven approach. They will be an opportunist, a motivator, and a cultural champion who thrives in ambiguity and seizes every challenge as an opportunity to drive transformation and achieve results.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director will oversee manufacturing operations, facilities management, mechanical maintenance, and product service functions. They will play a vital role in aligning operations with market demands, advancing the company’s vertical integration strategies, and scaling capabilities to bring the factory closer to the customer, ensuring responsiveness and operational agility. A strong emphasis will be placed on enhancing quality at every level and leveraging manufacturing strengths to deliver superior customer value.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Operational Leadership: Refine and execute manufacturing strategies to support scalability, efficiency, and innovation, ensuring alignment with organizational growth objectives.
• Transformational Change: Lead transformative initiatives, including vertical integration, capability enhancements, and operational expansion, to position manufacturing as a strategic enabler of growth.
• Growth Culture Champion: Foster a high-performing, opportunistic culture that embraces challenges and celebrates achievements, influencing and energizing cross-functional teams.
• Customer-Centric Operations: Function as a champion for the customer within operations, driving responsiveness, service excellence, and integration of the Voice of the Customer into operational strategies. Focus on bringing the company’s advantages and strengths closer to the customer through agile manufacturing and superior product quality.
• Quality Enhancement: Establish and reinforce a culture of quality, ensuring that all products meet and exceed customer expectations.
• Advanced Technologies: Spearhead the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, and data-driven processes to streamline operations and improve decision-making.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with key stakeholders—including Supply Chain, Product Development, Engineering, and Sales—to integrate new products, align operations with market demands, and ensure seamless execution. Prioritize initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction and product excellence.
• Strategic Planning and Execution: Contribute to strategic planning processes, leveraging expertise in M&A, multinational operations, and strategic capability building to advance the company’s growth agenda.
• Problem Solving: Lead from the front with a hands-on approach to problem-solving, simplifying complex challenges and driving swift, effective solutions.
• Employee Engagement and Leadership: Build, motivate, and develop a high-performing manufacturing team. Establish a culture of accountability, empowerment, and excellence while fostering a positive work environment.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Champion the use of analytics and KPIs to measure performance, drive continuous improvement, and identify opportunities for operational optimization.
• Cost Optimization: Analyze costs and implement initiatives to enhance efficiency and profitability while maintaining superior quality and safety standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education and Experience: A bachelor’s degree in mechanical or industrial engineering, or a related field, with 9–10 years of manufacturing leadership experience. (MBA preferred.) Experience with vertical integration and M&A of operations is highly desirable.
• Growth-Focused Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead manufacturing operations through significant growth, fostering a culture of innovation and seizing opportunities in high-growth environments.
• Advanced Manufacturing Expertise: Deep expertise in ERP systems (e.g., Syspro, Oracle), MES, Lean Manufacturing, automation, Industry 4.0, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Strategic Capability Building: Proven record in transforming operational capabilities, scaling manufacturing operations, and aligning factories with customer needs.
• Customer-Centric Focus: Strong alignment with customer service principles, emphasizing responsiveness, quality, and the integration of customer feedback into operations..
• Quality and Excellence: Experience in managing quality management systems and driving initiatives to elevate product and process quality.
• Problem-Solving Mindset: Exceptional problem-solving skills with a hands-on, action-oriented approach to resolving challenges quickly and effectively.
• Transformational Leadership: Experience leading cultural and operational transformations, inspiring teams to embrace change and achieve ambitious goals.
• Global Perspective: Experience in managing multinational operations and navigating complex, diverse manufacturing environments.
• Financial Acumen: Proficiency in budgeting, cost control, and capital expenditure planning, ensuring sustainable growth and profitability.
• New Product Integration: Expertise in launching a high volume of new products and aligning production capabilities with market demands.
• Communication and Influence: Exceptional communication skills to articulate vision, inspire teams, and engage stakeholders across all levels.

The ideal candidate will:

• Thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and embrace challenges with a “let’s get it done” attitude.
• Simplify complexity and drive results quickly, minimizing bureaucracy and maximizing impact.
• Demonstrate a growth mindset, inspiring others to seize opportunities and deliver excellence.
• Balance data-driven decision-making with a human-centered approach, building trust and collaboration within teams.
• Function as a champion for manufacturing excellence, representing the company with pride and accountability both internally and externally.

This role is a unique opportunity for a transformational leader to leave a lasting impact, driving operational excellence and propelling the company’s growth to new heights while ensuring the highest quality and customer satisfaction.

LOCATION

• This is a full-time in-office position based at Company headquarters in Oregon City, OR.