Senior Director Operations

Senior Director Operations

Location: Madison, WI (Onsite)

Job Type: Fulltime

Travel will be required for the 8–9 locations across North America listed in the documents.

The Senior Director Operations will be responsible for the effective management and leadership of the company's distribution operations. As a critical member of the company's executive management team, contribute to developing, monitoring, and achieving the organization's strategic plans, initiatives, and goals. The job involves overseeing warehouse distribution operations - five, soon to be six, locations in North America with pending expansion into Mexico, ultimately growing to 11 or 12 distribution operations.

Company currently operates 8 distribution centers (parts warehouses) across North America:

• Windsor, Wisconsin
• Denver, Colorado
• Ontario, California
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Agawam, Massachusetts
• Eugene, Oregon
• Milton, Ontario, Canada

High-performing individuals in this position will be considered for promotion to VP Operations within 12-18 months.

Key Responsibilities & Skills

Provide strong day-to-day leadership to the Operations organization that mirrors the adopted mission and core values of the company. Develop and implement long-term operational strategies that align with company objectives. Lean on experience and strong business acumen to help understand how financial performance and operational performance impact the company's overall performance. Provide dynamic leadership to operational teams in the areas of project management, process improvement, supply chain management and quality assurance. Define and generate key operational KPI metrics to show and steer departmental goals and targets. Collaborate with operational managers to develop strategic plans, strategic capital investments, and systems improvements needed by the organization to reach the next level business objectives. Motivates and leads a high-performance management team; attract, recruit and retain required members; provide mentoring with a focus on career development for the team. Develop and maintain excellent business relationships with outside vendors and service providers, as well as internal non-operational department leaders. Represent the company in various professional assignments, councils and events, promoting the operational best practices of company within these professional events. Perform other related duties and assignments as required. Operate in conformance with the requirements of the quality management system. Provide feedback on systems needs/changes.

Skills & Qualifications

Experience leading a team of 8 direct reports up to 50 indirect reports. Responsible for $45M+ in critical engine component inventory. Experience managing all aspects of distribution operations, receiving pick-pack-ship, inventory control, logistics, and vendor management. Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement experience. Experience/Background in the following areas: Distribution, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Warehouse Management, Transportation Management Systems (TMS) - Freight, Logistics, Automotive Components, Inventory Management. Client is seeking someone with a passion for the logistics side of distribution, including freight management, inbound, outbound, Pick-Pack-Ship, receiving, inventory control, logistics, and warehouse management. Ideal candidates should have experience managing relationships with freight, LTL, and parcel carriers. Candidates should have experience with best practices around distribution and warehouse management operations. Client is seeking candidates who have experience shipping 300-600 packages per day. 10-15 years business-related experience in ever increasing responsibility roles. Must have knowledge of production processes, Statistical Process Control (SPC), cost control, and other techniques for maximizing the efficiency of production and distribution of product. Must be detail oriented and customer service oriented. Well organized with a professional manner. A self-starter with initiative and proven willingness to assume ownership for areas of responsibility. Entrepreneurial spirit. Ability to make informed decisions quickly and independently. Strong interpersonal communication and employee relations and the ability to train others in these skills. Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred. Consideration of a relocation to Madison, Wisconsin.

Performance Factors

Client Executive Committee members will either possess or develop the following competencies:

1. Strategic orientation: The employee has the ability to think long-term and beyond their own area. Can analyze organizational strengths and weaknesses and integrate that with knowledge of the industry, market, and organization to develop long-term strategy.
2. Financial: The employee creates and adheres to realistic budgets in a manner that helps achieve the company's objectives. Tracks expenses frequently enough to make adjustments. Understands the basic financial reports and how decisions affect financial measures.
3. Customer focus/market knowledge: The employee consistently conveys that the customers are the highest priority. Respects customer needs and expectations and uses both to drive decisions. Understands the market in which the business operates including competitors, suppliers, customers and the regulatory environment.
4. Vision/teambuilding: The employee sees to it that the organization's vision and strategic plan are both aligned and well-understood by employees. Establishes an environment that creates incentives for and eliminates barriers to the achievement of goals. Communicates how different roles contribute to team success.
5. Decisiveness: The employee investigates all viable options, along with the potential consequences of each, and then makes timely decisions. Can direct a group through this process and does not hesitate to make difficult decisions. Can speed up or slow down the process as needed.
6. Organizational IQ: The employee understands the internal climate of the organization, including the most productive channels of communication, and makes use of the appropriate channels to achieve goals. Understands the unwritten protocols and political aspects of how communication takes place.

Additionally, all Client employees shall exhibit the following:

1. Attendance and dependability: The employee can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Employee can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments.
2. Communication/listening: The employee communicates effectively and appropriately. Uses good judgment as to what to communicate to whom as well as the best way to get that accomplished. Listens to others and allows them to make their point.
3. Relationships with others: The employee works effectively and relates well with others including superiors, coworkers, and individuals inside and outside the company. The employee exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships.
4. Safety and security: The employee actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.
5. Quality and continuous improvement: The employee promotes organizational effectiveness by anticipating and dealing with problems. Encourages others to suggest improvements to work processes, and persistently focuses on quality, as well as on results. Seeks ways to improve productivity and effectiveness by identifying sources of mistakes and determining or suggesting a course of action to prevent their recurrence.
6. Teamwork: The employee is a team player who contributes valuable ideas, opinions, and feedback. Communicates openly and honestly and can be counted on to fulfill commitments made to others.