Senior Director - Head of Project Management

Standex

About The Position

Standex International is a global industrial growth company operating through our market-leading brands in electronics, cutting-edge forming technologies, engraving, and scientific refrigeration. We work with our customers to advance progress through innovation. From inventing and producing parts for next-generation space vehicles to evolving vaccine refrigeration, designing functional textures for everyday products, improving renewable energy technology, and much more, we are focused on making what’s next possible. The Sr. Director - Head of Project Management is responsible for leading the strategy, planning, and execution of new plant construction, facility expansions, and major capacity deployment initiatives worldwide. This role oversees complex greenfield and brownfield projects across multiple regions, ensuring the successful launch of advanced manufacturing facilities enabled by automation, digital technologies, and Industry 4.0 capabilities. Reporting to Global Vice President of Operations, the Director provides end-to-end ownership from site selection through construction, equipment installation, commissioning, and ramp-up to full operational performance. The role requires exceptional cross-functional leadership, global stakeholder management, and the ability to deliver large capital projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field required
15+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or industrial project leadership
Proven track record leading large-scale global capital projects
Must have direct experience delivering both greenfield and brownfield plant startups internationally
Demonstrated success launching manufacturing operations in multiple countries
Extensive experience with automation, advanced manufacturing systems, and digital technologies
Experience managing complex, multi-million-dollar capital programs

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA preferred
PMP or equivalent project management certification

Responsibilities

Lead a portfolio of global capital projects including greenfield plant builds, brownfield expansions, and strategic capacity deployments across all of Standex Electronics
Define overall project strategy aligned with Electronics growth plans and manufacturing footprint optimization
Establish governance, project standards, and execution frameworks for global plant startups through standard work playbook
Serve as executive project sponsor and primary point of accountability for delivery outcomes
Direct end-to-end development of new manufacturing facilities from site selection through operational launch
Lead facility expansions, conversions, consolidations, and modernization projects
Oversee master planning, facility design, construction management, and infrastructure readiness
Ensure seamless integration of new operations into existing manufacturing networks
Champion implementation of highly automated production systems including robotics, vision systems, AGVs/AMRs, and smart tooling
Drive adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies such as MES, IIoT platforms, digital twins, AI-driven analytics, and predictive maintenance
Evaluate emerging technologies and incorporate scalable solutions to enhance productivity, quality, safety, and cost performance
Partner with IT and engineering teams to build digitally enabled “smart factories”
Align capacity deployment with demand forecasts, SIOP inputs, and strategic growth initiatives
Partner with individual businesses for plant readiness including staffing, training, supply chain setup, quality systems, and operational processes
Lead commissioning and validation activities to achieve rapid and stable production ramp-up
Establish performance baselines and drive attainment of target throughput, yield, and cost metrics
Coordinate efforts across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, IT, Finance, HR, and EH&S
Manage external partners including construction firms, equipment suppliers, system integrators, and consultants
Lead multi-regional teams across diverse cultures and time zones
Provide regular executive updates and facilitate key decision-making
Develop business cases, capital appropriation requests, and ROI analyses working with cross functional teams
Manage large capital budgets and cost controls across multiple projects with periodic reporting as needed
Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to protect project objectives
Ensure compliance with corporate governance, procurement policies, and contractual obligations
Ensure all projects meet regulatory requirements (Standex and Local) and corporate EH&S standards
Embed safety-by-design principles into facility and equipment planning
Support environmental sustainability goals including energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives
Drive safe construction practices and zero-incident project execution
Oversee transition from project phase to operational ownership
Conduct post-implementation reviews and capture lessons learned
Drive continuous improvement in project execution methodologies
Build organizational capability for future global expansions