Senior Director of Operations

Sr. Director of Operations

Job Overview

The Sr. Director of Operations provides overall strategic leadership, direction, and operational excellence across multiple trailer manufacturing sites. This position is responsible for delivering business performance, building a strong culture, and driving continuous improvement across all trailer operations — including production, engineering, maintenance, materials, quality, and logistics for the utility, dump, equipment, car hauler, gooseneck, and tilt trailer lines.

As a transformational leader, the leader will architect and execute a multi-site growth and performance strategy that aligns with enterprise objectives, enhances profitability, and develops future operational leaders. This individual ensures each trailer plant operates with safety, quality, delivery, and cost discipline while fostering a “One Team” culture grounded in accountability, integrity, and collaboration — and ensures compliance with DOT, FMVSS, and industry weld/structural standards across the trailer product portfolio.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic & Cultural Leadership

• Serve as the senior operations leader across multiple trailer manufacturing sites, accountable for achieving strategic, financial, and cultural goals.
• Develop and implement a multi-site operational strategy that supports business growth, scalability, and standardization of best practices across Trailer product lines (utility, dump, equipment, car hauler, gooseneck, and enclosed cargo trailers).
• Champion company core values by driving a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence on the shop floor.
• Lead and mentor plant managers and functional leaders, ensuring clarity of goals, strong communication, and alignment with corporate direction.
• Partner with senior leadership to define and execute long-term strategies in production capacity, workforce planning, and capital investment for chassis, frame, and body fabrication lines.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and sales/dealer networks on regular communications with OEM and fleet customers to drive growth and resolve issues.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily operations across multiple trailer facilities to ensure achievement of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) objectives.
• Establish standardized systems, processes, and performance metrics across sites — including SIOP, earned hours, and engineer-to-order workflows — to enable consistency and best-in-class performance.
• Lead Lean and Six Sigma initiatives across weld, paint, assembly, and finishing operations to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase throughput.
• Ensure all facilities operate in compliance with DOT, FMVSS, OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory, environmental, and safety standards specific to trailer manufacturing.
• Foster cross-site collaboration to share knowledge, standardize BOMs and work instructions, eliminate duplication, and drive enterprise-level improvement.

Financial & Business Performance

• Help develop and execute annual budgets and long-range business plans for the trailer business unit.
• Partner with Finance, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to align operational execution with business forecasts and fluctuating trailer/fleet customer demand, including LCC sourcing strategies.
• Monitor performance metrics and take proactive measures to meet or exceed financial and operational targets.
• Manage capital expenditures — including press brakes, weld robotics, paint lines, and material handling equipment — to ensure ROI and operational capability improvements.

Talent & Community Leadership

• Build and sustain a pipeline of high-performing leaders across all trailer manufacturing locations.
• Promote a culture of learning, empowerment, and accountability at every level, from the weld cell to the executive team.
• Ensure all sites operate as responsible corporate citizens within their communities.
• Model transparent communication and foster trust between leadership and the workforce.

Key Competencies

• Multi-Site Leadership: Proven ability to lead, align, and optimize multiple trailer manufacturing sites.
• Strategic Thinking: Translates vision into actionable plans that drive enterprise success across the trailer product portfolio.
• Operational Expertise: Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and end-to-end trailer production systems — frame fabrication, weld, paint, assembly, and final QC/PDI.
• Financial Acumen: Skilled in managing budgets, capital investments, and P&L performance.
• Change Leadership: Effectively leads transformation and cultural evolution across diverse teams.
• Collaborating & Influencing: Builds trusted relationships across departments and levels of the organization, including engineering, supply chain, and dealer/OEM partners.
• People Leadership: Develops talent, builds cohesive teams, and creates a high-performance culture.

Education – Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience, with at least 5 years overseeing multi-site operations, ideally within trailer, truck body, or heavy vehicle equipment manufacturing (e.g., utility, dump, equipment, car hauler, or enclosed cargo trailers).
• Proven success leading large, complex organizations and managing P&L performance.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Lean enterprise transformation across multiple facilities.
• Strong understanding of financial metrics, operational KPIs, and business performance drivers.
• Working knowledge of trailer industry standards and compliance requirements (DOT, FMVSS, weld codes such as AWS D1.1/D1.2, PPAP/VAVE processes).
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to travel up to 50% as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in trailer, truck equipment, truck body, or heavy/industrial vehicle manufacturing environments.
• Master’s degree (MBA, MS Engineering, or equivalent).
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or equivalent.
• Experience leading facilities covered by OSHA, EPA, DOT, or other significant compliance frameworks specific to commercial trailer manufacturing.
• Familiarity with engineer-to-order (ETO) trailer configurations and custom/specialty trailer builds.

Leadership Attributes

• Courage to challenge assumptions and drive improvement.
• Humble, people-first leader who listens, coaches, and empowers others.
• Strategic mindset balanced with strong operational discipline.
• Passionate about results, continuous learning, and long-term success.
• Acts with integrity, transparency, and accountability at all times.
• Inspires trust and confidence through authenticity and consistency.