Sr. Director, Finance Operations and Manufacturing (USA, Remote)

Overview

This role serves as the Sr. Director, Finance Operations and Manufacturing, providing strategic Finance leadership for the organization’s manufacturing operations. The position connects operational performance to financial outcomes and enterprise value by establishing the insights, operating mechanisms, and investment discipline needed to improve cost, capacity, quality, delivery, working capital, and profitability across the manufacturing network.

The role reports to the Chief Financial Officer. There is a preference for candidates who can work on-site. While the posting is for Fargo, ND and Coralville, IA, applications from qualified candidates in other locations will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Act as the senior Finance partner to Operations and Manufacturing, connecting operational execution to financial outcomes, enterprise value, and strategic decision-making.
• Build and lead financial operating mechanisms to improve visibility into cost, capacity, quality, delivery, inventory, working capital, and profitability performance.
• Design, strengthen, and scale product costing and related capabilities, including standard costing, cost accounting, manufacturing variance, COGS, absorption costing, inventory valuation, BOM/routing cost, and profitability frameworks.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Commercial, R&D, and Corporate Finance to identify risks and opportunities early and support better business decisions.
• Support capital deployment, capacity expansion, manufacturing network planning, automation, ERP implementation, and investment decisions through rigorous financial analysis and business case development.
• Improve forecast accuracy, operational KPI governance, executive reporting, and business review processes across a complex manufacturing footprint.
• Lead Finance transformation, integration, organizational redesign, and continuous improvement initiatives while building standard work, accountability, and scalable processes.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing Operations Finance team and Finance Business Partner capability across the integrated manufacturing business.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive Finance leadership experience supporting manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or technical operations, with 5+ years leading leaders or senior teams.
• Demonstrated experience supporting multi-site operational finance in biotech, pharmaceutical, CDMO, medical device, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Deep expertise in manufacturing finance, including product costing, standard costing, cost accounting, COGS management, manufacturing variance analysis, absorption costing, inventory valuation, and profitability analysis.
• Strong understanding of P&L management, manufacturing cost structures, inventory optimization, capital deployment, capacity investment decisions, forecasting, and S&OP processes.
• Experience supporting businesses with complex product portfolios, capacity constraints, significant capital investment requirements, and transformation or integration agendas.
• Experience with ERP systems, enterprise reporting, executive KPI dashboards, and advanced financial modeling.
• Ability to operate with high accountability, influence cross-functional leaders, challenge assumptions constructively, and create clarity through metrics, standard work, and disciplined operating mechanisms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with gene reading and writing segments, including exposure to CDMO business models.
• Familiarity with Danaher Business System (DBS) and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive transformation in complex, global organizations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary range: $200,000 to $250,000.
• Eligible for bonus/incentive pay.
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees.

Location

• Fargo, ND and Coralville, IA (on-site preferred). Applications from qualified candidates in other locations will be considered.

Travel

• Ability to travel domestically and occasionally internationally, up to 25%, as business needs require.