Director Strategic Initiatives (Champaign)

Director – Strategic Initiatives (Director Track)

Manufacturing | Engineering | Product Development

Champaign, IL Area (Onsite) | Relocation Available

$175K–$225K Base + Bonus | U.S. Citizenship Required

This is not a traditional Director role.

We are specifically targeting a Senior Program or Project Manager with a strong engineering and manufacturing background who is ready to step into their first enterprise-level leadership position.

This role reports directly to executive leadership and will lead high-impact initiatives across manufacturing, engineering, product development, and commercial teams. It is designed for someone who has been driving complex programs and is now looking for broader scope, visibility, and influence across the business.

If your background includes leading complex, cross-functional initiatives across plant operations, engineering, product development, and commercial teams—and you have hands-on experience with new product development (NPI) and delivering measurable business results—this is where that experience gets leveraged at a higher level.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Lead and execute cross-functional programs across manufacturing, engineering, R&D, and product development

Drive new product introduction (NPI) and commercialization efforts within a manufacturing environment

Partner with plant operations, engineering teams, and commercial leadership to ensure execution alignment

Support initiatives tied to revenue growth, margin improvement, and operational performance

Implement tools, systems, and process improvements to enhance visibility and execution discipline

Deliver clear, data-driven updates to executive leadership on progress, risks, and outcomes

This is an execution-focused role. You will be expected to drive results, not just build strategy.

What Tends to Work in This Role

10–15 years of experience in program or project management within a manufacturing or engineering environment

Strong exposure to product development, R&D, or engineering-driven programs

Experience leading NPI, product launches, or complex cross-functional initiatives

Solid understanding of manufacturing operations, plant environments, and supply chain coordination

Must bring strength in at least one of the following areas:

Commercial sales or go-to-market initiatives (channel programs, pricing, customer engagement)

R&D or engineering-led development environments

Product development and commercialization (NPI, product launches, lifecycle management)

Ability to influence across teams without direct authority

Track record of delivering measurable outcomes across multiple initiatives

Must-Have Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required

No sponsorship available – U.S. Citizenship required

Background in manufacturing (electronics or engineered products preferred, not required)

Demonstrated strength in Commercial Sales, R&D, and/or Product Development environments is required

Demonstrated career stability, typically reflected by 5–7+ years with each organization, along with clear progression and increasing responsibility over time

Onsite role – relocation required if not local

This Role Is Likely NOT a Fit For

Current Directors or VPs with large team ownership

Candidates focused primarily on strategy without hands-on execution

Program managers without manufacturing or engineering experience

Candidates without exposure to commercial, R&D, or product development environments

Individuals seeking remote or highly flexible work arrangements

Why This Role

Direct exposure to executive leadership and company decision-making

Opportunity to step into a Director-level path without needing prior Director title

Ownership of high-impact initiatives across engineering, manufacturing, and product development

Environment focused on execution, accountability, and measurable results