Operation Manager for outsourcing

Location

Dongguan, China

Reports To

Plant Operation Director

Direct Reports

• Outsourcing Strategy / Development Manager
• Materials / Planning / Purchasing Leaders (matrix or direct)
• Quality / Engineering / Program Leaders (matrix)

Position Summary

This role is designed as a successor position to the Plant Operation Director, with primary responsibility for leading day-to-day operations and long-term capability building of outsourced manufacturing (Virtual Plant model).

The position owns end-to-end operational performance across contract manufacturers (CMs), covering safety, quality, delivery, cost, and capability development. The role requires strong operations leadership, deep understanding of manufacturing and supply chains, and proven experience in driving continuous improvement through Lean / Six Sigma methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

Outsourced Operations Leadership (Virtual Plant Ownership)

• Lead overall operational performance of contract manufacturing partners, ensuring alignment with Molex operational standards and business objectives.
• Translate business demand into executable operational plans across outsourced factories.
• Act as the primary operational interface between Molex DSS and contract manufacturers.

Safety, Quality, Delivery & Cost (SQDC) Management

• Ensure EHS, product quality, delivery performance, and cost competitiveness across all outsourced operations.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for major quality, delivery, or capacity issues.
• Own escalation management and crisis handling for supplier operational disruptions.

Manufacturing & Process Excellence

• Lead the deployment of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and standard work across CM operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives targeting productivity, yield, scrap reduction, lead-time compression, and cost reduction.
• Leverage BB/GB methodologies to structure problem solving, Kaizen events, and performance reviews.

Supply Chain & Material Integration

• Partner closely with Materials, Planning, Purchasing, and Logistics teams to ensure stable supply and execution excellence.
• Balance inventory, service level, and operational risk in a high-mix, low-volume environment.
• Support supply assurance, risk mitigation, and capacity planning initiatives.

Supplier & Operation Capability Development

• Assess and develop operational capability of contract manufacturers, including process maturity, management systems, and technical readiness.
• Lead supplier audits, operational reviews, and development roadmaps.
• Drive long-term capability building rather than short-term execution only.

Financial & Business Performance

• Own operational contribution to P&L performance, including cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and working capital optimization.
• Lead VAVE, productivity, and operational saving initiatives with measurable financial impact.
• Partner with Finance to validate and realize operational savings.

People & Leadership Development

• Develop future operations leaders through coaching, delegation, and structured capability building.
• Build an organization that can scale with business growth.
• Act as a role model for Principle-Based Management (PBM) culture and leadership mindset.

Transformation & Strategy Support

• Support Operation Director in defining long-term outsourcing and operation strategies.
• Lead or co-lead major transformation programs across operations and supply base.
• Step in as acting Operations Director when required.

Scope of Responsibility

• End-to-end responsibility for outsourced manufacturing operations under the DSS Virtual Plant model.
• Strong ownership for operational excellence, risk management, and continuous improvement.
• Successor-ready role with increasing scope and decision authority over time.

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related)
• Preferred: MBA / EMBA

Experience

• Required: 12+ years of experience in operations, manufacturing, or supply chain leadership
• Strong hands-on operational background (plant, production, quality, or industrial engineering)
• Experience managing contract manufacturers or multi-site operations
• Preferred: Electronics / connector / cable / automotive manufacturing experience
• High-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment experience
• Proven track record in lean transformation or operational excellence

Skills & Competencies

• Strong end-to-end operations leadership mindset
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority
• Strong financial acumen and business judgment
• Fluent in Mandarin and English
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix and global environment
• Comfortable with ambiguity and change

Lean / Six Sigma

• Strongly Preferred: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (BB) certification
• Acceptable: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (GB) with strong applied project experience

Additional Statement

This role is a critical leadership pipeline position and is intended to develop a future Plant Operation Director. The scope and accountability of this role may expand over time based on readiness and business needs.