Director of Operations

About the Role

This is a rare and uniquely positioned Operations leadership opportunity within a fast-growing personal care brand. Operating in a dynamic, fast-paced, fire-fighter environment, this Director of Operations will take a hands-on, tactical approach to building the foundational infrastructure needed to scale — spanning people, processes, and technology across the full supply chain and in-house manufacturing operations.

Central to this role is the implementation and optimization of the Great Plains ERP system as a key operational backbone, alongside the development of scalable SOPs, demand planning processes, and reporting structures that will power the next chapter of company growth.

We are seeking an exceptional, hands-on, strategic, and results-driven leader to spearhead a comprehensive transformation of our supply chain and manufacturing operations. This leader will build and develop high-performing teams, implement best-in-class employee training and development programs, establish robust reporting structures to measure and drive results, and cultivate a continuous process improvement mindset throughout the organization.

Key Areas of Impact:

Operations Management

• Oversee daily operations across all manufacturing, logistics, and shipping to ensure consistency, quality, and safety.
• Create standardized daily meetings on current goals, challenges and training opportunities
• Design and implement scalable systems, SOPs, and staffing plans to support labor efficiency and sustainable growth.
• Lead organizational restructuring efforts to optimize manufacturing layout, workflows, and team accountability.
• Take a tactical, ground-level approach to building operational foundations in a high-speed, reactive environment.

Procurement & Supply Chain

• Oversee procurement of raw materials and packaging, including re-bidding contracts to optimize cost and quality.
• Maintain proactive relationships with suppliers and ensure consistent inventory levels for uninterrupted production.
• Evaluate inventory and create processes to effectively meet retail deliverables while conserving cash.
• Develop and refine demand planning processes to enable accurate forecasting and meet retailer growth requirements.
• Leverage and optimize the Great Plains system to improve procurement workflows, visibility, and reporting.

Strategic Planning & Private Label Expansion

Support the vision and operational structure to expand the business model: Personal Care Brand (Sales/Marketing) and Contract Manufacturing (Private Label/Contract Manufacturing).

• Partner with the CEO to align operational strategy with long-term business goals, including capacity planning and cross-functional execution.
• Act as a bridge between strategic leadership and day-to-day operations, translating vision into executable plans.

Process Improvement & Technology

• Identify and implement process flow improvements, automation, and technology solutions to drive efficiency and adaptability.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including facility upgrades, equipment planning, and production reorganization.
• Champion the adoption and optimization of Great Plains and other operational technology across the organization.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision making, and operational accountability.

Financial & Cost Management

• Drive operational analysis of labor, CapEx, scrap, automation, and other key cost levers.
• Execute vendor negotiations, resource allocation strategies, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Build and manage annual production budgets, forecast facility capabilities, and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Identify and quantify opportunities for cost savings across the full manufacturing and logistics footprint.
• Evaluate Bills of Materials (BOMs) across product lines to identify cost-saving opportunities, eliminate waste, and improve margin.
• Own the full budget development process, from initial build through ongoing management, ensuring alignment with operational priorities and business objectives.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Build and lead high-performing teams across operations, with a focus on accountability, development, and engagement.
• Design and implement best-in-class employee training and development programs to elevate team capability.
• Partner with department heads to evaluate performance, improve communication, and create a culture of ownership and results.
• Operate as a stabilizing, motivating force in a high-urgency, high-growth environment.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Proven leadership experience in CPG, personal care, manufacturing, or packaging industries — ideally in a high-growth or turnaround environment.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous “fire-fighter” environment while simultaneously building scalable, long-term foundations.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems; Great Plains experience strongly preferred.
• Strong background in cost control, process optimization, demand planning, and team building.
• Hands-on experience with KPIs, process improvement tools (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent), and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Multi-brand or brand/manufacturing bifurcation experience preferred.
• Strategic thinker with the discipline and appetite for tactical execution.
• Fast learner with strong digital and tech fluency; track record of sourcing and implementing operational systems.

Preferred Experience

• Supply Chain and Contract manufacturing experience.
• Knowledge of production machinery, equipment planning, and facility design.
• Experience scaling operations to support national or global retail distribution.
• Collaborative partner and proactive problem-solver with strong cross-functional communication skills.