Vactor Mfg - Director of Operations

Posted: Friday, 03 April 2026
Valid Thru: Sunday, 03 May 2026
Index Requested on: 04/03/2026 14:27:15
Indexed on: 04/03/2026 14:27:15

Location: Streator, IL, 61311, US

Industry: Manufacturing - Other
Occupational Category: 13-0000.00 - Business and Financial Operations
Type of Employment: FULL_TIME

Vactor Manufacturing is hiring!

Description:

Essential Duties:

  • Ensure a safe work environment by maintaining a clean, organized, and visually efficient workplace. Responsible for enhancing the facility’s overall appearance and ensuring proper upkeep of all support systems. Actively contribute as a member of the Safety Committee to promote a productive and safety-focused work culture.
  • Serve as a key member of the Vactor leadership team, responsible for championing the development and implementation of lean manufacturing principles across all operations.
  • Provide input for the Annual Strategic Plan, Operating Plan, and Capital Expenditure Plan to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
  • Collaborate in maintaining an ISO 9001-compliant environment, with responsibility for planning, implementing, and measuring continuous quality improvements. Focus on embedding quality into both products and all business processes to ensure operational excellence.
  • Lead efforts to drive cost-efficient manufacturing by developing systems and procedures that enhance resource productivity and maximize throughput.
  • Oversee the development, maintenance, and execution of the Master Build Schedule, collaborating with Sales, Purchasing, and Engineering teams to ensure level scheduling meets daily customer demand in the most cost-effective way.
  • Manage and develop manufacturing capacity to ensure timely availability of components to support assembly and service parts needs. Utilize external subcontracting as needed to address short- or long-term internal capacity constraints.
  • Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of consumption-based material systems, utilizing pull signals to trigger material deliveries and support production order execution within manufacturing cells.
  • Oversee the improvement of plant-wide inventory accuracy and ensure compliance with all policies and procedures related to material transactions.
  • Actively support new product development projects to ensure quality and cost-efficient manufacturing requirements are integrated into the design process.
  • Recruit, retain, and develop exceptional talent that thrives in a team-oriented environment.
  • Oversee the development and execution of capital requirements for facility and production operations, ensuring existing equipment is properly maintained to maximize asset utilization and achieve long-term return on investment.
  • Contribute to the strategy for 80/20 initiatives, including product rationalization and exploring additional opportunities for efficiency and optimization.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

  • Bachelor’s degree required with preference towards Engineering or Business concentration. MBA or other Masters Degree highly desirable.
  • 7-10 years of people and functional management experience in manufacturing required.
  • Must demonstrate familiarity with the equipment and processes used in the production of products
  • Ability to demonstrate sound interpretation of financial documentation and associated analysis required
  • Experience in manufacturing planning required
  • Must have strong leadership skills with a proven track record of problem solving and cost management skills and team development
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills essential, both verbal and written, and able to work within a collaborative team environment
  • Ability to utilize strong analytical skills and capabilities to mine, interpret and implement data driven decisions
  • Proven track record of expanding plant capacity and increasing throughput
  • Knowledge of Heavy Equipment Systems (hydraulics, electrical, pneumatics, engines, etc.) preferred
  • Exposure to Lean methodology, experience with Kaizen and KANBAN pull systems environment strongly desired

Salary Range: $150-200k

#LI-PZ1

Benefits of Employment:

In addition to excellent career growth opportunities, Federal Signal Corporation offers a wide array of benefits including: annual bonus potential, insurance (life, medical, dental, vision), paid holidays, paid vacation, 401(k) with matching contributions and tuition reimbursement. We provide our employees with a smoke-free, drug-free workplace.

About Us:

Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) builds and delivers equipment of unmatched quality that moves material, cleans infrastructure, and protects the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and commercial customers. Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates two groups: Environmental Solutions and Safety and Security Systems. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: www.federalsignal.com.

The Company is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category, characteristic, or trait under applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation in the application process, email Human Resource at HR@federalsignal.com. All other applications must be submitted online.

Vactor Mfg. is a leading manufacturer of municipal combination catch basin/sewer cleaning vacuum trucks and industrial vacuum loaders that clean up industrial waste or recover and recycle valuable raw materials. Vactor is located in Streator, IL and is a subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Responsibilities:

Please review the job description.

Educational requirements:

  • high school

Desired Skills:

See job description

Benefits:

Please see the job description for benefits.

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