Department Manager

Dandy is transforming the massive and antiquated dental industry—an industry worth over $400B. Backed by some of the world’s leading venture capital firms, we’re on an ambitious mission to simplify and modernize every function of the dental practice through technology. As we expand our reach globally, Dandy is building the operating system for dental offices around the world—empowering clinicians and their teams with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practices, their people, and their patients.

About the Role

Dandy is looking for a Department Manager to join our rapidly growing venture-backed company as a senior founding leader for our brand-new Indianapolis facility. In this role, you will own the end-to-end performance of specific product lines and a fleet of sophisticated automated equipment within our Quality, Fixed, or Removables departments. You will manage a team of 40+ Machine Operators and 4 Supervisors in a state-of-the-art Advanced Automated Manufacturing Center across 24/7 shifts. If you’re looking to disrupt traditional manufacturing status quo by scaling a high-tech facility from the ground up, this is the right place for you!

Onboarding & Travel

This role requires up to 70% travel during the first 1–2 months for training at our hubs in Provo, UT or Dallas, TX.

What You'll Do

• Automation & Product Line Ownership: Own the operational success of end-to-end automated product lines; ensure equipment uptime, throughput, and output quality meet Dandy’s high standards.

• Launch & Scaling: Lead the physical and systematic setup of your department’s equipment; manage the installation and calibration phases of new automated cells during the facility launch.

• Continuous Improvement: Continuously seek opportunities to improve automated workflows and processes for optimal efficiency and scalability.

• KPI Management: Outline, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive accountability and informed decision-making as the facility reaches new milestones.

• Strategic Collaboration: Partner closely with Factory Automation Engineering, OEM Vendors, and internal Dandy teams to troubleshoot technical issues and refine equipment configurations.

• Troubleshooting: Quickly solve people, process, and technology issues as you operate within a large-scale and fast-paced automated manufacturing environment.

• Team Leadership: Lead, scale, and continuously train a team of 40+ Machine Operators and 4 Supervisors, fostering a culture of technical excellence and a "builder" mindset.

• Reporting: Report directly to the facility’s Director of Manufacturing.

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 7+ years managing a department in a manufacturing environment; proven track record of owning and scaling end-to-end automated production lines.

• Launch Mentality: Experience in a facility launch or greenfield project where processes were built from the ground up in a high-tech setting.

• Analytical Mindset: Comfortable performing data analysis and making decisions based on results to help the team work through launch-phase ambiguity.

• Digital Proficiency: High level of comfort with digital tools, specifically GSuite (Google Docs, Sheets, etc.) and Slack.

• The "Vibe" Factor: A "people person" with a natural curiosity, a great sense of humor, and a positive attitude that inspires a founding team.

• Communication: Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; ability to work with multiple internal and external teams (including OEM vendors) to push initiatives to completion.

Bonus Points For

• Previously built and/or led departments in an automated manufacturing environment, including the operational infrastructure and written SOPs.

• Background in medical device, automotive, or high-tech hardware manufacturing.

• Experience managing high-volume, 24/7 automated production environments.

Req ID: J-1100

For full-time positions, Dandy offers a wide range of best-in-class, comprehensive, and inclusive benefits tailored to each country where we operate. Our local benefits packages typically include healthcare, dental, mental health support, parental planning resources, retirement savings options, and generous paid time off—ensuring our team members are supported no matter where they live and work.

Dandy is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture that celebrates authenticity to win as one. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Dandy also fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are dedicated to embracing challenges and creating an accessible, inclusive workplace for all individuals. If you require any accommodations for your interview or have any questions beforehand, rest assured that we will do everything we can to meet your needs. Visit Dandy Careers https://www.meetdandy.com/careers/ for more!

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