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

Overview

This role serves as the strategic Finance leader for manufacturing operations, connecting operational performance to financial outcomes and enterprise value. The position will establish the insights, operating mechanisms, and investment discipline needed to improve cost, capacity, quality, delivery, working capital, and profitability across the manufacturing network.

You will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Commercial, and executive leadership to improve financial visibility, challenge operational assumptions, support capacity and capital decisions, and build scalable product costing and profitability capabilities across the integrated manufacturing business.

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

Responsibilities

• Serve 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 frameworks, including standard costing, cost accounting, manufacturing variance, COGS, absorption costing, inventory valuation, BOM/routing cost, and profitability.
• Partner cross-functionally (Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Commercial, R&D, and Corporate Finance) to identify risks and opportunities early and drive 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 through transformation, integration, organizational redesign, and continuous improvement initiatives by 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 continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive transformation in complex, global organizations.

Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements

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

Compensation & Benefits

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

Location

• Posted in Fargo, ND, and Coralville, IA; applications from qualified candidates in other locations will be considered.
• Preference for candidates who can work on-site.