Senior Director of Operations

Position: Sr. Director of Operations – Manufacturing Operations (Multi- Site)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Vice President, Operations

Business Unit: Dakota Bodies

Effective Date: 11/7/2025

Position Overview

The Sr. Director of Operations provides overall strategic leadership, direction, and operational excellence across multiple manufacturing sites. This position is responsible for delivering

business performance, building a strong culture, and driving continuous improvement across all operations — including production, engineering, maintenance, materials, quality, and logistics.

As a transformational leader, the leader will architect and execute a multi-site growth and performance strategy that aligns with enterprise objectives, enhances profitability, and develops future operational leaders. This individual ensures each site operates with safety, quality, delivery, and cost discipline while fostering a “One Team” culture grounded in accountability, integrity, and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Cultural Leadership

• Serve as the senior operations leader across multiple sites, accountable for achieving strategic, financial, and cultural goals.
• Develop and implement a multi-site operational strategy that supports business growth, scalability, and standardization of best practices.
• Champion company core values by driving a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Lead and mentor site managers and functional leaders, ensuring clarity of goals, strong communication, and alignment with corporate direction.
• Partner with senior leadership to define and execute long-term strategies in production capacity, workforce planning, and capital investment.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and sales on regular communications with customers to drive growth and resolve issues.
  
  

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily operations across multiple facilities to ensure achievement of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) objectives.
• Establish standardized systems, processes, and performance metrics across sites to enable consistency and best-in-class performance.
• Lead Lean and Six Sigma initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.
• Ensure all facilities operate in compliance with regulatory, environmental, and safety standards.
• Foster cross-site collaboration to share knowledge, eliminate duplication, and drive enterprise-level improvement.
  
  

Financial & Business Performance

• Help develop and execute annual budgets and long-range business plans.
• Partner with Finance, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to align operational execution with business forecasts and customer demand.
• Monitor performance metrics and take proactive measures to meet or exceed financial and operational targets.
• Manage capital expenditures to ensure ROI and operational capability improvements.
  
  

Talent & Community Leadership

• Build and sustain a pipeline of high-performing leaders across all locations.
• Promote a culture of learning, empowerment, and accountability at every level.
• Ensure all sites operate as responsible corporate citizens within their communities.
• Model transparent communication and foster trust between leadership and the workforce.
  
  

Key Competencies

• Multi-Site Leadership: Proven ability to lead, align, and optimize multiple manufacturing sites.
• Strategic Thinking: Translates vision into actionable plans that drive enterprise success.
• Operational Expertise: Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and end-to-end production systems.
• Financial Acumen: Skilled in managing budgets, capital investments, and P&L performance.
• Change Leadership: Effectively leads transformation and cultural evolution across diverse teams.
• Collaborating & Influencing: Builds trusted relationships across departments and levels of the organization.
• People Leadership: Develops talent, builds cohesive teams, and creates a high-performance culture.
  
  

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
• 10 years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience, with at least 5 years overseeing multi-site operations.
• Proven success leading large, complex organizations and managing P&L performance.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Lean enterprise transformation across multiple facilities.
• Strong understanding of financial metrics, operational KPIs, and business performance drivers.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to travel up to 50% as needed.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in discrete, heavy, or industrial manufacturing environments.
• Master’s degree (MBA, MS Engineering, or equivalent).
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or equivalent.
• Experience leading facilities covered by OSHA, EPA, or other significant compliance frameworks.
  
  

Leadership Attributes

• Courage to challenge assumptions and drive improvement.
• Humble, people-first leader who listens, coaches, and empowers others.
• Strategic mindset balanced with strong operational discipline.
• Passionate about results, continuous learning, and long-term success.
• Acts with integrity, transparency, and accountability at all times.
• Inspires trust and confidence through authenticity and consistency.