Director of Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

The Director of Operations is responsible for providing operational leadership for Fillauer's Chattanooga operations. This role oversees day-to-day performance, including Manufacturing, Machine Shop Operations, Assembly, Facilities, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence initiatives. The Director of Operations supports safety, quality, delivery, productivity, employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and cost performance.

 

This leader will drive operational execution while supporting the systems, processes, and talent necessary to meet current and future production needs. The Director of Operations will partner closely with Engineering, Product Development, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Sales, and Finance to support alignment between business objectives and manufacturing performance. A key responsibility of this role is supporting a high-performing culture through coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide operational leadership for Chattanooga manufacturing operations, including Machine Shop, Assembly, and other Production Support functions.
• Execute operational plans that contribute to business growth, customer satisfaction, quality objectives, and cost performance.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly operating reviews to monitor performance, identify risks, and drive accountability.
• Ensure achievement of key performance indicators related to safety, quality, productivity, on-time delivery, inventory, and cost performance.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives that improve throughput, reduce waste, increase efficiency, and optimize resource utilization.
• Establish clear ownership and accountability for operational results across functional areas.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to remove barriers and improve production performance.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, develop, and coach a high-performing team consisting of managers, supervisors, and team leads.
• Establish a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and employee engagement.
• Conduct talent review and development activities to strengthen team capability and organizational readiness.
• Identify and develop high-potential employees through coaching, development plans, mentoring, and advancement opportunities.
• Ensure consistent application of performance management practices and accountability standards.
• Foster open communication, employee involvement, and strong leadership visibility.
• Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, employee relations, organizational development, and talent acquisition activities.

Manufacturing & Quality Excellence

• Ensure manufacturing operations consistently meet production schedules, quality standards, and customer requirements.
• Implementation of manufacturing best practices, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support compliance with FDA, ISO 13485, OSHA, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Quality leadership to maintain effective quality systems, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities.
• Drive root-cause analysis and long-term corrective actions for operational challenges.

Financial Management

• Manage labor plans, departmental spending, and cost improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and improve key operational performance metrics including labor efficiency, overhead absorption, inventory performance, and cost of goods sold.
• Provide input on capacity, staffing, and capital investment requirements to support current and future production needs.
• Contribute to business cases for capital investments, automation, equipment upgrades, and resource needs.

Operational Planning & Organizational Effectiveness

• Support the Regional Vice President of Operations in executing operational initiatives and achieving business objectives.
• Lead initiatives that improve scalability, operational maturity, and cross-functional alignment.
• Maintain effective operating rhythms and communication processes to improve decision-making and organizational alignment.
• Contribute to facility planning and operational readiness to support business growth.
• Champion a culture focused on customer satisfaction, employee engagement, operational excellence, and innovation.

Safety, Facilities & Environmental Compliance

• Promote a safe work environment and a culture of safety.
• Oversee facility maintenance, equipment reliability, preventative maintenance programs, and site infrastructure investments.
• Maintain compliance with all environmental, health, and safety requirements.
• Lead initiatives focused on improving workplace conditions, efficiency, and employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience leading managers and multi-functional operations teams.
• Must have, or be eligible to obtain, a valid driver’s license and driving record within the standards outlined within Hanger’s Motor Vehicle Safety Policy and Procedures.