Director of Production Operations

Director of Production Operations

Model 1 Commercial Vehicles, a leading vehicle dealership and manufacturer, is seeking a Director of Production Operations to lead its four production centers across the United States. The role will drive high‑volume, high‑quality production while implementing continuous improvement initiatives and standardizing processes across locations.

Director will oversee production operations at Duncan, OK;
Elkhart, IN;
Summerville, SC; and Chino, CA, ensuring targets and delivery goals are met. The position includes strategic planning, capacity expansion, workforce management, and cross‑functional collaboration with OEMs, Sales, Planning, Warranty, and Field Service.

• Lead production operations across all locations, ensuring production targets and delivery goals are achieved.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to increase capacity, expand throughput, and improve overall production performance.
• Implement standardized processes, workflows, and operating procedures across all production centers.
• Partner with OEMs to ensure build quality, correct specifications, and resolution of issues impacting production or customer requirements.
• Influence staffing levels, shift structures, and resource allocation to maximize facility output in partnership with local management.
• Work with scheduling and forecasting teams to align staffing, capacity planning, and facility resources with corporate production targets.
• Ensure facilities are ready for customer acceptance appointments, including unit readiness, documentation, and inspection preparation.
• Lead or co‑lead daily and weekly production meetings to resolve constraints and improve on‑time delivery performance.
• Provide accurate production reporting to executive leadership and cross‑functional partners.
• Oversee customer acceptance readiness for fleet and transit deliveries, ensuring all units meet required inspection and acceptance criteria.
• Collaborate with local teams to ensure consistent customer acceptance processes and documentation.
• Approve corrective actions for defects identified during customer inspections and prioritize rework activities.
• Partner with Warranty and Aftermarket teams to review quality trends, warranty claims, rework drivers, and production‑related build standards.
• Support the development and implementation of quality assurance processes and inspection procedures.
• Maintain a safe, efficient, and compliant working environment across all production hubs.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities in labor utilization, workflow efficiency, rework reduction, and facility operations.
• Coordinate internally across Sales, Planning, Warranty, Field Service, and Aftermarket Operations to resolve customer acceptance findings and inspection‑related issues.
• Collaborate with Sales and Planning to align customer delivery timelines with operational capacity.
• Participate in strategic planning for new facility expansions, equipment needs, and long‑term production capabilities.
• Serve as an escalation point for operational challenges, OEM specification issues, or customer concerns requiring leadership involvement.
• Directly manage and develop Production Operations Managers at each production hub, setting performance expectations, coaching, and ensuring accountability to KPIs, quality standards, and production goals.
• Foster a culture of communication, teamwork, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

• Competitive benefits: health insurance, paid holidays, and vacation pay.
• Continuous training and development opportunities.
• Access to an expansive network of mentors and networking opportunities.
• State‑of‑the‑art technology to support daily responsibilities.
• Competitive pay range: $125,000 – $165,000.

• 10+ years of experience in production operations, automotive upfitting, fleet/commercial vehicles, or related manufacturing environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi‑site operations or high‑volume production facilities.
• Strong operational discipline with experience in capacity planning, labor forecasting, and process standardization.
• Demonstrated ability to drive efficiency, quality, and performance improvements across diverse teams.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional leadership skills.
• Ability to travel frequently to all production hubs.
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand/walk for extended periods, and work in a shop environment.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Must pass a background check and drug screening.

Model 1 values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.