Director, Manufacturing Operations

About the role

Cochlear is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead and evolve manufacturing at its Brisbane site. Reporting to the VP of Manufacturing Australia, you will oversee a complex manufacturing and engineering organization, balancing day‑to‑day performance with long‑term transformation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multi‑layered manufacturing and engineering department, strengthening leadership capability across teams.
• Deliver operational outcomes across people, quality, capacity, customer service and cost.
• Own department performance, including financial results, headcount and resource allocation.
• Develop and execute capacity plans that respond to changing demand while improving agility and cost efficiency.
• Anticipate and manage risks to volume, quality and cost in partnership with cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Drive consistent deployment of operational‑excellence initiatives across the site.
• Lead large‑scale improvement programmes, embedding lean and continuous‑improvement practices.
• Lift yield, productivity and cost performance through structured improvement programmes.
• Shape manufacturing and engineering strategy and contribute to the transformation roadmap.
• Partner with R&D, Quality and Engineering to transition new technologies and products into manufacturing, ensuring successful industrialisation.
• Develop and execute a talent strategy that supports long‑term site capability, succession and growth.
• Coach and develop leaders to build a high‑performing, accountable culture.

Required profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in manufacturing and engineering environments.
• Track record of delivering operational results in people, quality, capacity and cost.
• Experience managing financial performance, headcount and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute capacity and risk‑management plans.
• Strong background in leading lean and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Experience with new‑product introduction and industrialisation.
• Ability to build and execute talent and succession strategies.

Required skills

• Lean manufacturing
• Continuous improvement methodologies
• Capacity planning
• Risk management
• Industrialisation of new products