Operations Director

the client is a premium arts and crafts designer, manufacturer, and distributor with more than 20 years of operating history and a strong focus on launching new product lines. the organization employs approximately 23 people across fulfillment, printing/production, design, and marketing. the client is seeking an on-site operational leader to support its next phase of growth by owning day-to-day execution, strengthening people management, and building a more structured operating cadence across functions. the role is intended as a long-term career opportunity with the potential to develop into a foundational leader with a profit-sharing path tied to sustained performance. the operational leader will provide daily oversight of the fulfillment operation to ensure on-time, accurate, and consistent delivery execution. they will implement a clear employee performance framework, including goal setting, regular feedback, and measurable accountability, and will oversee accounts receivable collections directly and through delegation to improve process discipline and visibility into cash flow performance. as scope matures, responsibilities are expected to expand toward director-level ownership, including establishing KPIs and a measurement cadence for branding and social media tied to outcomes, leading trade show representation with strong preparation and follow-through, and building and running an inventory and supply chain operating system covering forecasting, purchasing, vendor management, and inventory controls. additional responsibilities may include leading external contractors and internal stakeholders to improve integration of order management, fulfillment workflows, and shipping systems. for exceptional, more senior candidates, the role may also support sourcing and executing acquisitions in adjacent or near-adjacent spaces, identifying and helping launch new product lines, and leading initiatives to expand sales beyond the U.S. and Canada with operational readiness and channel execution. the candidate is expected to demonstrate interest in the arts and crafts category or a closely related end market, be highly proficient in microsoft excel and comfortable working with operational metrics, and be detail-oriented with strong operational rigor. they should be able to lead a small team, create accountability, and improve execution through practical systems and follow-through.