Director of Operations - Manufacturing

Director of Operations

Full-Time | Multi-Site Operations | Michigan | New York | $165,000 - $180,000/year

Lead a multi-site operations organization spanning manufacturing, blending, packaging, warehousing, and distribution. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for an experienced operations executive who can translate business strategy into measurable improvements in safety, productivity, service, cost, profitability, and organizational performance.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Enterprise-Level Impact: Take ownership of operational performance across multiple facilities and business functions.

• Executive Visibility: Report directly to the President and serve as a key member of the leadership team.

• Multi-Site Leadership: Establish consistent operating practices while adapting to the needs of individual facilities.

• Broad Operational Scope: Oversee manufacturing, blending, packaging, bulk handling, warehousing, distribution, maintenance, inventory execution, and workforce effectiveness.

• Strategic + Hands-On: Balance long-term operational planning with active involvement in day-to-day execution and problem solving.

• Growth & Improvement: Lead initiatives involving continuous improvement, capital investment, automation, equipment reliability, and operational scalability.

• People Leadership: Develop plant and operations leaders while strengthening succession planning, accountability, and organizational capability.

What You'll Be Doing

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Develop and execute short- and long-term operating strategies aligned with company objectives.

• Translate business priorities into practical operating plans involving people, equipment, facilities, capacity, and resources.

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, customer service, asset utilization, profitability, and overall operating performance.

• Advise the President on operational risks, capital requirements, resource needs, and opportunities for improvement.

• Lead organizational and operational changes while maintaining employee engagement and business continuity.

Multi-Site Operations

• Direct manufacturing, blending, packaging, bulk handling, warehousing, and distribution activities across multiple facilities.

• Establish common procedures, operating standards, performance expectations, and accountability practices.

• Coordinate staffing, production resources, equipment availability, warehouse activity, and material movement.

• Ensure production and distribution activities support customer requirements and approved operating plans.

• Share successful processes and best practices across facilities while accounting for site-specific requirements.

• Balance safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost in daily operational decisions.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Build and maintain a proactive safety culture across the operations organization.

• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, DOT, environmental, hazardous-material, HAZWOPER, and training requirements .

• Ensure teams follow established procedures, work instructions, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Partner with Quality, Technology & Facilities leadership on corrective actions, audits, investigations, and continuous improvement.

• Support root-cause analysis and corrective-action activities when operational or quality issues occur.

• Ensure employees are properly trained and held accountable for established safety and operating requirements.

Operational & Financial Performance

• Own performance across key areas including safety, service, productivity, labor utilization, inventory, equipment reliability, waste, cost, and operational profitability .

• Use ERP, production, inventory, maintenance, and financial information to monitor performance and identify opportunities.

• Establish corrective actions when performance falls short of expectations.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean principles, 6S, standard work, visual management, and structured problem solving .

• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets covering labor, overtime, maintenance, equipment, and other operating expenses.

• Build business cases for capital equipment, automation, facility improvements, and asset replacement.

• Strengthen preventive maintenance and equipment reliability programs.

Cross-Functional & Customer Leadership

• Work closely with Supply Chain to align production, inventory, procurement, capacity, and customer commitments.

• Partner with Customer Success on service issues, delivery challenges, escalations, and changing customer requirements.

• Collaborate with Quality, Technology & Facilities to improve operational discipline, facility effectiveness, and quality outcomes.

• Partner with Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Transportation, and other functional leaders to execute company priorities.

• Help ensure customer commitments are aligned with actual operational capabilities.

• Support the successful launch of new products, services, customers, and business initiatives.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop plant and operations managers and supervisors.

• Establish clear goals, responsibilities, decision-making authority, and performance expectations.

• Build stronger leadership capability through succession planning, cross-training, development plans, and stretch assignments.

• Foster a culture centered on accountability, engagement, recognition, professional development, and continuous improvement.

• Hold leaders accountable for maintaining safe, productive, and high-performing operations.

• Strengthen employee retention, leadership depth, and organizational readiness.

Leadership Structure & Collaboration

The Director of Operations reports directly to the President and works as a member of the company's leadership team.

The position partners closely with senior leaders across:

• Supply Chain

• Quality

• Technology & Facilities

• Customer Success

• Finance

• Sales

• Human Resources

• Transportation

Success in this position requires the ability to lead through influence across multiple departments, facilities, and organizational levels.

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field

• Equivalent combination of education and substantial relevant experience may be considered

• 12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, industrial distribution, process manufacturing, or operations leadership

• 7+ years leading managers and supervisors in manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, or industrial operations

• Demonstrated success leading operations across multiple facilities, business units, or complex manufacturing environments

• Proven ability to improve safety, service, productivity, cost performance, equipment reliability, inventory execution, profitability, and employee development

• Experience managing operating budgets, capital expenditures, continuous improvement programs, and organizational change

• Experience with ERP-supported operations, inventory management, operational reporting, performance metrics, budgeting, and capital planning

• Knowledge of applicable OSHA requirements

• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills

• Strong business judgment and understanding of profitability, customer impact, risk, and resource allocation

• Excellent communication, coaching, change-management, and relationship-building skills

• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to operational disruptions

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP systems, operational reporting tools, and performance metrics

• Valid driver's license and ability to travel frequently between assigned facilities

Preferred Experience

• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification

• Specialty chemicals

• Lubricants

• Blending operations

• Packaging

• Bulk liquid handling

• Hazardous materials

• Process manufacturing

• Industrial distribution

Experience in these environments is strongly preferred.

How Success Will Be Measured

The Director of Operations will be accountable for measurable performance across areas including:

• Safety performance and corrective actions

• On-time delivery and customer service

• Production output and throughput

• Labor productivity

• Cost and budget performance

• Operational profitability

• Resource utilization

• Waste reduction

• Inventory accuracy

• Equipment reliability

• Maintenance effectiveness

• Continuous improvement and 6S maturity

• Capital project results

• Employee engagement and retention

• Leadership development and succession readiness

• Cross-functional execution

Culture & Leadership Environment

This role is designed for a leader who believes strong operational performance comes from combining clear expectations, capable people, disciplined processes, reliable equipment, and continuous improvement .

You'll have the opportunity to influence how multiple facilities operate, develop the next generation of operations leaders, and work directly with executive leadership on the organization's operational strategy.

Position Details

Position: Director of Operations

Salary: $165k - $180k

Reports To: President
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Operations: Multi-site manufacturing, blending, packaging, warehousing, and distribution
Facilities: Michigan and New York
Travel: Frequent travel between assigned facilities required

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and maintaining a professional workplace built on respect, accountability, collaboration, and inclusion.

Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Michigan, Director of Operations, Operations Management, Manufacturing Operations, Multi-Site Operations, Chemical Manufacturing, Process Manufacturing, Lubricant Manufacturing, Industrial Manufacturing, Chemical Blending, Warehouse Operations, Distribution Operations, Supply Chain, Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence