Director of Manufacturing - Specialized

Job Description

Job Description

The Opportunity

Ghostworks Marine builds specialized, high-performance composite vessels for commercial and U.S. Navy customers. We are at an inflection point- transitioning from individual program builds to a multi-program operation. As new contract awards accelerate that growth, we are adding dedicated operational leadership to ensure builds scale without sacrificing the craftsmanship and technical standards that define our work.

Our builds range from established platform families to first-article prototypes- often with engineering still iterating while production is underway.

The Director of Manufacturing is the person who keeps the shop running- schedules aligned, teams coordinated, resources allocated, and builds moving. This role works in close partnership with the EVP Production & Master Boat Builder, who retains full authority over composite production methodology, structural manufacturing decisions, and build technical standards. The Director of Manufacturing owns production execution- ensuring those standards are implemented with discipline and operational visibility across every active program.

This is a hands-on leadership role at a technically sophisticated company with a clear growth trajectory. The right candidate will be energized by the complexity of the work, equally comfortable with structured execution and managed ambiguity, and driven by the satisfaction of a well-run shop floor.

Core Responsibilities - Production Operations

• Lead day-to-day production across multiple simultaneous custom and semi-custom boat builds

• Own production scheduling, workflow discipline, and on-time delivery across active programs

• Allocate labor and resources across hull fabrication, deck construction, modules, and final assembly

• Identify and resolve bottlenecks; maintain momentum during periods of high production activity

• Support production supervisors and crew leads with clear operational direction and prioritization

• Maintain real-time visibility into build status and communicate program health to leadership

Systems & Operational Visibility

GWM is in the process of selecting and implementing an ERP system to replace our current tools. The Director of Manufacturing will serve as the Production Lead on that implementation- coordinating participation across the production organization, defining production-side requirements, and bringing key decisions to executive and technical leadership. No prior ERP implementation experience is required; what is required is genuine comfort with systems, data, and the discipline to build operational visibility that scales with the business.

• Serve as Production Lead for ERP implementation- own production module requirements and adoption

• Define how production data flows: job costing inputs, labor tracking, material consumption, WIP status

• Build and maintain production reporting that gives leadership clear, current program visibility

• Drive continuous improvement through operational data- schedule adherence, cost-to-plan, labor efficiency

Procurement & Vendor Oversight

A tactical purchasing function currently exists within the production org. The Director of Manufacturing will provide strategic oversight and ensure procurement decisions are cost-disciplined, and vendor relationships are structured appropriately as GWM's volume and complexity grow.

• Ensure PO activity aligns with production priorities and active build schedules

• Maintain awareness of key supplier relationships; flag cost or reliability issues and recommend corrective action

GWM maintains an active quality function. The Director of Manufacturing will partner with that team to ensure production execution stays aligned with compliance and reporting requirements.

• Ensure shop floor activities and build records support ISO 9001 procedures and DoD program documentation requirements

• Provide production data inputs for CMMC compliance and government contract reporting

• Support Management Review cadence with production metrics and operational trend analysis

Qualifications
Required

• 7+ years of production or manufacturing operations leadership, with direct shop floor management responsibility

• Background in composite manufacturing, marine production, or a specialty fabrication environment involving advanced materials

• Comfort operating in a low-volume, high-mix environment where builds vary significantly in configuration, scope, and technical complexity

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent builds or production programs simultaneously

• Strong technology aptitude- comfort with systems, data, and digital workflows; instinct for operational visibility

• Excellent organizational, scheduling, and cross-functional communication skills

Strongly Preferred

• Direct experience in semi-custom or custom boat building

• Working familiarity with composite manufacturing processes- infusion, prepreg, wet layup, or equivalent

• Experience with ERP, MES, job costing, or production management systems in a manufacturing environment

• Background in procurement coordination or vendor management within a production operation

• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or DoD/government contract manufacturing requirements