Director of Operations

Location:

Denver, CO (On-site 5 days a week)

Reports to:

Founders / Managing Partners

Company Size: ~20 employees

Salary Range: $125,000-$150,000, depending on experience

Needle Paint is a needlepoint company redefining a traditional craft with innovation and technology. We sell premium on-demand direct-to-consumer needlepoint kits and finished hand-stitched products through multiple eCommerce channels as well as a wholesale business serving designers and specialty shops across the country. We're a small collaborative team setting a new standard for the industry with modern technology and optimized operations.

We're hiring a Director of Operations to lead Needle Paint's day-to-day operations across production, fulfillment, and inventory, while managing and developing the team that makes it all happen. You'll have real authority to improve systems, set priorities, and raise the bar on quality, speed, and reliability as we scale.

• Own end-to-end operations across printing, manufacturing, finishing, and fulfillment
• Improve production workflows, capacity planning, and lead‑time management
• Work closely with printing and production teams to ensure quality and consistency
• Oversee both our Denver production and coordinate with our partners overseas

• Lead and support production managers, technicians, and operations team members
• Build clear accountability and performance expectations
• Hire, develop, and mentor the team as we grow
• Be the calm, steady presence when things get busy (and they do)

• Manage inventory planning for canvases, threads, finishing materials, and packaging
• Improve forecasting to support DTC, wholesale, and seasonal demand
• Own vendor relationships, purchasing, and cost controls
• Reduce stockouts, waste, and rush production scenarios

• Find bottlenecks and fix them (or build around them)
• Drive continuous improvement in quality and efficiency
• Balance quality, speed, and cost as the business scales
• Define and track core operational KPIs (lead time, throughput, on‑time ship, inventory accuracy, waste/rework)
• Act as a key partner to founders on planning, capacity decisions, and growth initiatives
• Work with sales, marketing, and customer service to align operations with demand
• Be the voice of operations in how we build our tools to improve operational systems (order management, scheduling, reporting)

• 5+ years in operations in a hands‑on environment (DTC, consumer goods, light manufacturing, or fulfillment)
• Experience managing people (hiring, coaching, accountability, and performance feedback)
• Strong grasp of production planning, scheduling, and capacity management
• Experience with inventory forecasting and vendor management
• Clear communicator who can stay organized under pressure
• Comfortable working cross‑functionally with sales/marketing/customer experience
• You're a hands‑on, high‑standards leader, willing to jump in when needed, and focused on building systems that prevent chaos

• Experience with custom products, print‑on‑demand, or made‑to‑order workflows
• Experience with Shopify and/or order/inventory tools
• Genuine interest in craft/textiles/needlepoint (or excitement to learn)

• Real authority:You'll make decisions that matter and directly shape the company
• Visible impact:When you fix something, you'll immediately see it in lead times, margins, and team morale
• Leadership:You'll help build the culture and capabilities of the production team
• Engaged founders:We are engaged, product‑focused founders who want to provide what you need to take operations ownership
• Interesting product:You'll be working to produce handcrafted products people love, with industry‑changing technology, personalization, and on‑demand fulfillment
• Room to grow:This role has real opportunity to expand as the company grows

Founded in 2009, Needle Paint has grown significantly in the past few years. That growth has meant new systems, new tools, and new processes, and we want someone to help us bring them even further.

We created Stitch Perfect printing, our patent‑pending canvas printing technology, and also offer traditional hand‑painted canvases using a trusted artisan network. We are not just distributors with a website and a warehouse. We are a full‑scale printing and production facility in Denver, CO supported by global partners and an innovative technology team.

Founders are engaged and collaborative. Our founders are engaged and collaborative, and we’ll back an operations leader with trust, resources, and fast decisions.

• $125,000-$150,000, depending on experience
• Bonus potential tied to operational performance
• Benefits package and paid time off

To be considered, please include a brief cover letter at the top of your resume explaining why you’re specifically interested in this role at Needle Paint.