Director - Operations

Fragrance Plant Director

The Fragrance Plant Director serves as the senior operational leader for the Fragrance Division, overseeing Manufacturing, Warehousing & Logistics, the Fragrance QC Laboratory, Purchasing, and Customer Service. This role is responsible for ensuring that all production, quality, service, and supply chain functions operate with precision, efficiency, and alignment to customer and business needs.

The Director provides strategic vision and hands-on leadership across a diverse set of teams, driving operational excellence, capacity and resource planning, workforce development, safety performance, quality systems, and customer experience. This position plays a critical role in advancing organizational goals by improving processes, optimizing performance, managing plant-level financials, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations, ensuring safety, quality, on-time delivery, and efficiency targets are met.
• Set departmental goals, KPIs, and performance expectations across all reporting functions.
• Oversee production planning, capacity forecasting, labor planning, and workflow optimization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen operational stability.
• Partner with Purchasing to manage supplier performance, inventory levels, and material availability.
• Support the Customer Service team in delivering best-in-class communication, responsiveness, and order accuracy.
• Provide oversight to the Fragrance QC Lab to ensure testing accuracy, compliance, and timely approvals.
• Maintain full compliance with all EH&S, OSHA, regulatory, and corporate governance requirements.
• Manage budgets, capital investments, cost controls, and financial performance for the plant.
• Develop talent, mentor department heads, and cultivate a high-performance culture rooted in accountability and teamwork.
• Strengthen cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Finance, HR, and R&D to support business objectives.
• Serve as an escalation point for operational, quality, customer service, and supply chain issues.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Chemistry, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing or operations within fragrances, flavors, chemicals, cosmetics, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience overseeing multiple functional departments through department heads.
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance, quality, and supply chain reliability.
• Experience with ERP systems, production planning, and inventory management.
• Proven track record leading continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or related initiatives.

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong understanding of fragrance or other batch manufacturing processes and quality standards.
• Deep knowledge of EH&S regulations, safety protocols, and compliance requirements.
• Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and operations cost management.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional partnership skills.
• A thought leader with the ability to lead and influence diverse teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment producing custom make to order products on short lead times.

Core Competencies

• Leadership & Influence – Ability to motivate, develop, and hold teams accountable.
• Operational Excellence – Strong problem-solving, process improvement, and execution skills.
• Strategic Thinking – Ability to balance day-to-day operations with long-term planning.
• Communication & Collaboration – Clear, transparent communication across all organizational levels.
• Customer Focus – Ensures service reliability and customer satisfaction.
• Decision-Making – Makes data-driven decisions with urgency and accuracy.
• Adaptability – Thrives in a fast-moving environment with shifting priorities.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Office and production/warehouse environment.
• Regular exposure to aroma chemicals, fragrances, temperature variations, and production equipment.
• Must be able to move throughout the facility, including production and warehouse areas.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs occasionally.
• Must adhere to all PPE and safety requirements.