Director of Operations

A growing manufacturing organization is seeking a Director of Operations to lead production, quality, maintenance, and operational strategy across a multi-department manufacturing environment. This individual will serve as a key member of the senior leadership team and play a critical role in driving operational performance, continuous improvement, culture development, and long-term business strategy.

The Director of Operations will oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations while developing scalable processes, improving efficiencies, and ensuring alignment between operations, sales, and customer demand. This role requires a hands-on operational leader who can balance strategic thinking with execution in a fast-paced manufacturing setting

• Lead manufacturing operations across production, maintenance, quality, and warehouse functions.
• Develop and implement operational goals, KPIs, and reporting mechanisms to improve efficiency, throughput, and capacity utilization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on scrap reduction, workflow optimization, productivity, and quality enhancement.
• Partner closely with sales, production planning, and leadership teams to maintain customer lead times and operational alignment.
• Foster a culture centered around accountability, teamwork, safety, and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DNR, and other applicable regulatory standards.
• Evaluate capital equipment and facility improvement opportunities, including ROI analysis and implementation planning.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs and facility infrastructure to support uninterrupted operations.
• Lead and mentor operational teams while maintaining strong communication and alignment across departments.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Engineering, Management, or related field preferred.
• 5–10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience within a production environment.
• Prior leadership experience overseeing operations, production, maintenance, or quality teams.
• Experience driving Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong operational, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead teams, improve processes, and execute operational strategies.
• Experience in strategic planning, business operations, and organizational development preferred.