Director of Operations, Powder Coating

About the role

SJS Industrial, a veteran‑owned media blasting, industrial painting, powder coating, and light fabrication shop in Virginia Beach, VA serving military and maritime customers, is seeking a full‑time Director of Operations. The position requires relocation to Virginia Beach, VA. The ideal candidate has ten (10) or more years’ experience leading teams in a production‑driven environment, scheduling labor resources to support production deadlines and promoting ISO continuous process improvement. Over the next several years the primary objective will be to assist with planning and manage the expansion of production capacity from one work shift to three work shifts.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for Industrial Division budget to include COGS and staffing.
• Report production activities and process improvements to senior management.
• Perform production planning and scheduling ensuring no loss of production time.
• Working in conjunction with the quality control inspector, identify and pull defective work from production and route it to the rework line.
• Demonstrated ability to foresee and anticipate challenges and act accordingly to minimize impact through regular customer meetings or proactively sourcing feedback through customer interaction.
• Capable of identifying and targeting new migration and market share opportunities with existing customers by actively co‑developing roadmaps, understanding the customer buying process, co‑developing RFPs/RFQs with solution development engineers and proposal team members, managing customer proposals (Budget, and Final Proposals), and negotiating deals to close new business.
• When necessary, maintain contact between the company and customers to ensure satisfaction, resolve any outstanding issues, identify, and implement new solutions.
• Work on strategies with Sales Account Executives to identifying and develop potential new clients through outbound calls, office visits, and networking.
• Ensure long‑term working relationships with commercial and industrial clients in the Hampton Roads Region of Virginia that need paint, ceramic coating and powder coating services.
• Maintain communications with SJS employees regarding various SJS company communications that may also arise.
• Ability to demonstrate a strategic approach to new & existing customers and opportunities through opportunity planning.
• Providing data input into various systems, i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in support of the above duties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A degree in Industrial Engineering, Industrial Operations Management, business administration or another relevant field; OR, if candidate is a veteran, provide evidence of similar education, training or experience acquired through military service (i.e.,