Director Process Engineering-Kimball International, Jasper, IN - Jasper, IN

Leads the design, strategic development, optimization, and implementation of manufacturing and warehousing processes specific to support production. This role ensures efficient use of materials, labor, and equipment while maintaining high standards of quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Collaboration across departments to drive innovation, reduce waste, and support growth in a competitive market.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategic Process Leadership

• Develop and implement process engineering strategies that align with business goals and support lean, scalable manufacturing.
• Lead initiatives to improve throughput, reduce cycle times, and enhance product quality across operations.
• Champion continuous improvement culture (e.g., Lean, Kaizen) tailored to production environments.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align engineering efforts with business priorities.

Technology & Innovation

• Evaluate and implement new technologies such as robotics, automated material handling, and digital work instructions.
• Collaborate with product teams to ensure manufacturability of new designs.
• Lead efforts to digitize and modernize legacy processes without compromising product integrity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to ensure seamless execution of process improvements.
• Work closely with design and engineering teams to translate product concepts into efficient production plans.
• Serve as a technical advisor to leadership on process capabilities and limitations

Project & Capital Management

• Lead and oversight of major capital projects, including equipment upgrades, layout changes, and facility expansions.
• Manage budgets, timelines, and vendor relationships for engineering initiatives.
• Ensure ROI and alignment with strategic manufacturing goals.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of high-performing process engineers and technical specialists.
• Provide coaching, training, and development opportunities to foster a high-performance culture.
• Set clear goals, track performance metrics, and recognize achievements.

Manufacturing Process Optimization

• Analyze current production workflows (e.g., CNC machining, sanding, staining, packaging) to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Standardize best practices across multiple product lines and facilities while allowing for customization and craftsmanship.
• Drive cost reduction through material yield improvements, labor efficiency, and automation where appropriate.
• Monitor KPIs and use data analytics to drive performance improvements.

Qualifications:

Technical Skills

• Previous manufacturing engineering management experience.
• Strong mechanical knowledge
• PC literate
• Possesses knowledge of our core competencies and capabilities.

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to build and sustain relationships
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that is goal driven
• Role models the V&GP
• Team Oriented
• Strong drive for success
• Customer centric
• Possess a high degree of integrity
• Understanding of the Furniture industry
• Able to work effectively with diverse groups
• Ability to keep humor in the workplace
• Flexible, Tactful, Assertive
• Positive attitude, Patient
• Honest and ethical
• Able to give balanced feedback
• Ability to effectively delegate

Communication Skills

• Good listener
• Good written and verbal communication
• Good presentation skills
• Negotiation skills
• Can communicate and represent HNI/Kimball in difficult business and technical discussions with customers and agencies

Leadership Skills

• Able to make sound decisions weighing all aspects of a situation
• Strong organizational skills
• Needs to be self-managed and motivated
• Excellent problem-solving and facilitation skills
• Ability to adapt to and manage change
• Good relationship builder
• Ability to motivate effectively
• Able to facilitate win/win solutions
• Potential for advancing in higher level leadership positions
• Mentoring and coaching

Business Skills

• Good time management
• Financial /cost management skills
• Can handle multiple task
• Can break a project down into multiple tasks and manage timing of tasks
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple tasks

Educational

• BS (4-year degree) in Engineering, Engineering Technology or related science.
• Master's in Business and/or Engineering a plus.
• Ten or more years of experience in engineering or similar role and demonstrated significant contributions.

Physical

• Primary work environment is in a typical office environment
• Ability to walk throughout the plant multiple times daily
• May include vendor site visits.