Senior Director of Operations

Role: Senior Director of Operations

Location: Illinois

I am currently partnered exclusively with a Personal Care Contract Manufacturer in search for a Director of Operations based in Illinois.

The Senior Director of Operations will report directly to the COO and is responsible for all operational activities. You will be empowered to lead and develop a growing team to achieve operational & quality excellence.

*This is an onsite, full time position *Relocation support available

Essential Requirements

• 10 years Operations experience in the Personal Care industry.
• 5 years experience in a senior leadership role.
• Lean manufacturing training and education, including six sigma.
• 5 years experience in a leadership level position.
• Understanding, and maintaining, of US FDA CFR 111, NSF 455 cGMP Certification, GFCO Certification, SQF Certification.
• 5 years experience in an FDA regulated factory.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and Warehouse management software. Including LIMS, CMMS.
• Degree in Chemistry, Operations, Business Management is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct execution of operating policies to support overall company objectives.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track progress, assess performance, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of managers and employees, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable work environment.
• Oversee day-to-day operations across various departments, including supply chain, manufacturing/service delivery, logistics, and quality assurance.
• Focus on automation of the plant operation that will drive efficiency in daily plant operations and improve staff utilization.
• Direct daily company operations to meet budget, production and sales goals.
• Work closely with other senior executives, department heads, vendors, and customers to ensure seamless operations and alignment with market demands.
• Adhere to compliance with industry regulations OTC FDA 21 CFR 210/211 cGMP and cosmetic products ISO-22716, OSHA standards.
• Build positive relationships across all functions, partnering closely with all internal stakeholders.
• Enhance efficiency and reduce costs without compromising quality or customer satisfaction.
• Manage key finances, including operational budgets to make data driven decisions.
• Demonstrate successful execution of business strategies for company production capabilities and services.
• Communicate performance of the plant to Sales Team and Executive Management on a regular basis.
• Motivate and mentor production plant management staff, set the example through participation and involvement in, and oversight of appropriate departments.
• Establish performance goals, allocate resources, and assess policies for senior plant management.

Personality

• Strong Communication and analytical skills required.
• Must be a forward thinking leader.
• Strong influential skills that impact all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to design and improve processes.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments at any given time.
• High level of integrity and discretion.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision.

This role plays a critical part in maintaining high product quality and supporting continuous improvement initiatives within the organization.