Director of Operations

Summary

The Director of Operations partners closely with executive leadership to develop and execute strategic and tactical plans that meet or exceed company objectives. In this role, The Director of Operations leads cross-functional teams to achieve results while fostering a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and operational excellence. This leader ensures that operational strategies are aligned with organizational priorities and customer requirements, empowering the organization to scale effectively and perform at a high level.

Essential Job Functions

• Develop and execute strategic plans that drive both short- and long-term business performance.
• Oversee and drive operational performance to ensure achievement of Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Inventory (SQDCI) objectives.
• Partner with and support a proven leadership team, offering strategic direction and cohesive oversight across Operations, Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities, and Supply Chain.
• Establish, monitor, and act on KPIs through a disciplined cadence of reviews and data-driven corrective actions.
• Support and advance Lean/CI initiatives in collaboration with the CI Leader including 5S, VSM, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, and basic TPM; ensure continuous improvement practices are embedded and sustained across all operational areas.
• Evaluate and provide input regarding capital equipment needs, ensuring aligned and well-justified investment decisions.
• Optimize labor and capacity to enhance throughput and reduce lead times.
• Champion a culture grounded in safety, accountability, talent development and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with the Quality Team to reinforce established processes and improvements.
• Support customer meetings and audits; serve as the operational representative during escalations and root-cause/corrective-action reviews
• Other duties as required in support of the department and the company.
  
  

Leadership Responsibilities

The Director of Operations will provide strategic guidance and partner with an established cross-functional leadership team across Operations, EH&S/Facilities, and Supply Chain.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years progressive leadership in manufacturing operations.
• Industry experience in high-mix, engineered products (e.g., cable assemblies, interconnects, aerospace/defense) preferred.
• Executive leadership experience with strong team-building, conflict-resolution, supervisory, facilitation, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001/AS9100, ITAR/EAR, or equivalent regulated environments.
  
  

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  
  

Job Skills

• Proven track record of success in operational leadership, driving performance in complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of industrial manufacturing processes and best practices.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills, used to mentor and guide teams effectively.
• Demonstrated achievement in Lean/CI with measurable and sustained performance improvements.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated record of achieving results through continuous improvement, effective change leadership and stakeholder-management skills.
• ERP expertise and data-driven decision-making; SAP experience preferred.
• Strong financial acumen, including cost-reduction initiatives and capital investment (capex) ROI analysis.
• Proven ability to make sound, impactful decisions; effectively prioritize, execute, and consistently meet or exceed deadlines.
• Strong ownership of decisions and actions, fostering a culture of accountability across teams.
• Ability to work variable or extended hours, including evenings or weekends.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

As part of their job duties, the employee must be able to sit, stand, and walk throughout the day while frequently using their hands to handle objects and communicate verbally. Additionally, they may need to reach, stretch, push, pull, crouch, stoop, and occasionally lift objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds. This role requires specific vision abilities, including close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. According to ADA regulations, reasonable accommodation will be provided to ensure that individuals with disabilities can perform the job's essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is an air-conditioned work environment where employees have desks or cubicles and work in a fixed location. The physical environment is usually comfortable, well-lit, and equipped with the necessary facilities and hardware. The company culture is a culture of teamwork, communication, continuous improvement, business casual, strategic, and goal-oriented. The working conditions are stable, predictable, and secure.

Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

• ASTM F-2412-2005, ANSI Z41-1999, or ANSI Z41-1991 rated safety toe shoes in specific areas
• Clear ANSI Z87.1 safety-rated glasses in specific areas
  
  

EXPORT COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

This position includes access or potential access to ITAR and EAR (Export Administration Regulations) technical data. Therefore, candidates must qualify as US Persons, defined as US Citizens or Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders).

TRAVEL

Approximately <15% of travel is expected.