Director of Operations

Compensation: $130,000 Base Salary + Performance Incentive (On-Target Earnings $200,000+) Industry: Specialty Manufacturing | Off-Road Equipment About the Opportunity We are seeking a mission-driven Director of Operations to lead and scale a growing manufacturing business specializing in high-performance off-road equipment. This is a hands‑on leadership role responsible for building high-performing teams, creating operational discipline, and driving execution across manufacturing, production, supply chain, quality, and distribution. This opportunity is ideal for a military veteran who understands how to build teams, establish accountability, develop leaders, and execute under pressure. While manufacturing experience is important, we place an even greater emphasis on leadership, ownership, and the ability to create a culture built around performance and continuous improvement. If you've successfully led people through complex environments, enjoy solving operational challenges, and want to leave an organization significantly better than you found it, we'd like to speak with you. What You'll Do Operational Leadership Lead all day-to-day manufacturing and operational activities. Drive productivity, efficiency, safety, and quality across the operation. Develop scalable systems and standard operating procedures. Identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable solutions. Establish KPIs and accountability throughout the organization. Team Development Recruit, develop, and mentor supervisors and frontline leaders. Build a culture centered on accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. Coach leaders through performance management and professional development. Create succession plans and develop future operational leaders. Foster strong communication between production, engineering, purchasing, and executive leadership. Manufacturing Excellence Improve throughput, reduce waste, and optimize production scheduling. Partner with engineering to improve manufacturability and product quality. Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives. Ensure inventory, materials, and production resources are effectively managed. Drive on‑time delivery while maintaining quality standards. Financial & Strategic Ownership Own operational budgets and resource planning. Improve gross margins through operational efficiencies. Evaluate capital equipment and process improvement opportunities. Support strategic growth initiatives and capacity planning. Present operational performance metrics and improvement plans to executive leadership. Safety & Compliance Build and reinforce a world‑class safety culture. Ensure compliance with OSHA and all applicable manufacturing regulations. Maintain quality systems and operational documentation. What We're Looking For The ideal candidate is a builder—not simply a manager. You know how to earn trust, develop people, create structure where none exists, and hold teams accountable while maintaining high morale. You thrive in environments that require decisive leadership, operational discipline, and continuous improvement. Military leadership experience is strongly preferred, particularly candidates who have led teams in demanding, high-performance environments. Qualifications Military leadership experience strongly preferred. 8+ years of operations leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial, or related environments. Experience leading managers, supervisors, and cross‑functional teams. Demonstrated success improving operational performance and building scalable systems. Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality, and supply chain. Experience managing budgets and operational KPIs. Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience preferred. Excellent communication and leadership skills. Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent leadership experience will be considered. Success in the First 12 Months The successful Director of Operations will: Build a highly engaged and accountable leadership team. Improve production efficiency and operational throughput. Implement standardized processes across the operation. Strengthen safety, quality, and operational metrics. Improve delivery performance and customer satisfaction. Develop future leaders while building a culture of ownership and continuous improvement. Position the operation for sustained, profitable growth. Performance Bonus: Significant incentive opportunity On‑Target Earnings: $200,000+ Paid Time Off Retirement savings program Opportunity to make a lasting impact within a growing specialty manufacturing company. #J-18808-Ljbffr