Director of Operations

Responsibilities

• Direct, optimize, and scale day-to-day plant production schedule execution, assembly workflow, and throughput to consistently exceed delivery, quality, and labor variance metrics.
• Establish clear metrics (KPIs) and operational accountability across all production departments, maintaining high standards for on-time delivery (OTD) and scrap reduction.
• Partner with executive leadership on long-term manufacturing capacity planning, facility workflow optimization, and operational strategy.
• Maintain active high-level oversight of broader manufacturing support functions, collaborating with Materials Management, Planning, and Purchasing leadership to align materials flow with shop-floor schedules.
• Work in close partnership with the Director of Facilities & Maintenance to support site-wide safety standards, maintenance schedules, and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring operational alignment without disrupting ongoing facility programs.
• Collaborate closely with the Engineering team to ensure design-for-manufacturability, seamless new product introductions (NPI), and rapid execution of engineering change orders.
• Serve as an operational bridge between manufacturing execution and executive leadership, supporting corporate operational initiatives and PlayCore manufacturing best practices as required.
• Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and professional development for plant supervisors, team leads, and production personnel.
• Cultivate a high-performing, accountable shop-floor culture that emphasizes craftsmanship, teamwork, and operational excellence.
• Lead multi-department production meetings to align shift goals, eliminate operational roadblocks, and maintain transparent communications across all operational tiers.

Qualifications & Experience

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related technical field.
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing management experience in a discrete manufacturing environment, with at least 3–5 years in a senior plant operational leadership role overseeing multi-department operations.
• Demonstrated familiarity with metal fabrication, welding, coating processes, rotational molding, CNC machinery, and heavy assembly environments.

Core Leadership Competencies

• Collaborative Leadership: Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build strong cross-functional relationships across Engineering, Facilities, and Supply Chain teams.
• Business & Operational Acumen: Solid understanding of plant operational metrics, labor capacity planning, and manufacturing cost structures.
• Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; capable of articulating operational goals to floor teams and presenting business updates to executive leadership.