Director of Operations

Director Of Operations

The Director of Operations is the senior operational leader of the JBF Stainless Steel facility. This role owns all plant operations including production, safety, quality, maintenance, and people leadership. Reporting directly to the President/CEO, the Director of Operations is the primary point of accountability for on-site performance, culture, P&L outcomes, and regulatory compliance.

This is a key hire made at a critical juncture for JBF. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating in a turnaround environment, navigating high-pressure situations, and creating positive, lasting change with urgency and professionalism. The role requires full-time, on-site presence at the Frankfurt, NY facility.

Direct reports: Floor / Manufacturing Manager, Project Manager, HR (outsourced), Accounting (outsourced), Quality Control Manager.

Compensation: $95,000 $125,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications

Major Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. See Accommodation section below.

Operations Leadership

• Manage all daily on-site operations at the JBF facility, including fabrication, welding, grinding, quality inspection, maintenance, and shipping/receiving.
• Conduct regular meetings with the Floor/Manufacturing Manager and Project Manager to ensure production stays on schedule and customer commitments are met.
• Develop and implement production schedules to meet customer deadlines, quality standards, and cost targets.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators including throughput, on-time delivery, scrap rate, rework rate, and labor efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement (CI) initiatives across all operational functions in partnership with the Quality Control Manager.
• Ensure production capacity aligns with the project pipeline; partner with the Project Manager and President/CEO on capacity planning.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for operational issues; direct communication traffic to the correct internal or outsourced function as appropriate.

Outsourced Team Management (HR & Accounting)

• Serve as the on-site liaison and day-to-day manager for JBF's outsourced HR and Accounting partners.
• Direct communication between employees, management, and outsourced HR/Accounting teams to ensure timely and accurate resolution of inquiries.
• Ensure payroll, benefits, recruiting, compliance, and financial reporting processes are executed smoothly and in accordance with company policy.
• Escalate matters requiring ownership-level decisions to the President/CEO with full context and a recommended course of action.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Own and administer the plant's safety program, including OSHA recordkeeping (300 log), incident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations including OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926, EPA, NY Department of Labor, ASME, and AWS standards.
• Conduct regular safety audits, job hazard analyses (JHAs), and enforce PPE and safety protocol compliance for all personnel.
• Lead emergency response procedures; maintain an updated emergency action plan.

Quality Management

• Ensure all products and processes meet customer specifications, applicable codes (ASME Sec. IX, AWS D1.6), and internal quality standards.
• Oversee the Quality Management System (QMS) in collaboration with the Quality Control Manager; maintain the independence of quality functions from production pressure.
• Review and approve quality-related non-conformances, corrective/preventive actions, and customer complaint responses.

People Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, hire, develop, coach, and retain production team members in active partnership with outsourced HR.
• Conduct structured performance evaluations; provide ongoing feedback, recognition, and development opportunities.
• Address employee relations issues in accordance with company policy and employment law; partner with HR for disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, and terminations.
• Set the cultural tone on the shop floor: model accountability, respect, and safety-first behavior.
• Establish clear communication channels and reporting structures to minimize misinformation and maintain organizational stability.

Financial & P&L Accountability

• Manage the operations budget and take ownership of the facility's P&L to ensure JBF operates as a profitable entity.
• Identify areas where operational adjustments are required and take decisive action to drive positive financial outcomes.
• Identify cost reduction opportunities and implement efficiency improvements without compromising quality or safety.
• Report on operational and financial performance to the President/CEO through regular KPI dashboards and leadership meetings.
• Provide input to strategic planning, hiring projections, and capacity roadmaps.
• All other duties as assigned.

Marginal (Non-Essential) Functions

The following duties are secondary functions that could be reassigned to another employee if a reasonable accommodation is required:

• Assist with customer site visits and plant tours as needed.
• Represent JBF at industry events, trade association meetings, or training programs.
• Support special projects assigned by the President/CEO.
• Assist with vendor/supplier evaluations and facility maintenance planning.
• Travel to other company or owner locations as needed (estimated up to 1020% of time).

Requirements

Job Qualifications and Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and at least 10 years of progressively responsible manufacturing operations experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in manufacturing operations with progressive responsibility, including at least 3 years in a formal leadership or management role with direct reports.
• Demonstrated experience managing shop floor operations in a fabrication, welding, or metal manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to operate in a turnaround or high-pressure environment, including driving cultural and operational change.
• Demonstrated experience managing P&L and making data-driven decisions to improve profitability.
• Working knowledge of OSHA compliance requirements (29 CFR 1910 and/or 1926) and direct experience managing a plant safety program.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and hold accountable high-performing production teams.
• Excellent communication skills able to communicate clearly with both shop floor employees and executive leadership, and to direct communication flow across multiple functions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard productivity/scheduling tools.

Preferred:

• Experience in stainless steel fabrication, pressure vessel manufacturing, or custom metal fabrication.
• Familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), ASME stamp programs (U, R), or equivalent quality systems.
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or equivalent quality certification.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and digital production scheduling software.
• Experience managing or coordinating with outsourced HR and/or Accounting service providers.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or other quality management system frameworks.

Working Conditions

This position operates in a manufacturing plant environment with regular exposure to moving mechanical parts, welding fumes, airborne particles, and noise levels at or above OSHA permissible action levels (85 dBA). Heat, cold, and variable temperature conditions are present. Potential exposure to hazardous materials associated with stainless steel fabrication operations exists. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including safety glasses or face shield, steel-toed footwear, hearing protection, and any task-specific PPE as designated by posted area requirements or JHAs is required at all times on the production floor and will be provided. This role requires regular on-site presence at the Frankfurt, NY facility; remote or hybrid arrangements are not available.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

This role requires the employee to regularly walk the production floor and stand for extended periods, sit, bend, stoop, kneel, and reach in the course of conducting floor audits