Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field; equivalent experience considered
Minimum of 8 years in progressive manufacturing operations
Proven P&L management and operational leadership experience
Bilingual in English and Spanish for effective communication
Strong analytical and communication skills
Familiar with ERP and production planning tools
Experience in Lean Manufacturing and process improvement methods
Responsibilities
Develop and execute business strategy and manage P&L for cost optimization
Oversee manufacturing processes to ensure efficiency and high-quality
Drive Lean initiatives to optimize workflows and eliminate waste
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Customer Care to align operations
Inspire and develop production teams while fostering a culture of improvement
Lead cross-functional collaborations and resolve operational challenges
Serve as an escalation point for operational and customer issues
Benefits
Fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
Opportunity for team development and career growth
Collaboration with diverse teams across the organization
Engagement with customer insights for operational enhancements
Full Job Description
The Position
The Director of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for all production functions, ensuring the safe, efficient, and high-quality decoration of promotional products while maximizing productivity, quality, and profitability. This role partners closely with cross-functional leaders to achieve customer and business objectives by driving operational excellence, developing high-performing teams, and leading continuous improvement initiatives through Lean Manufacturing methods. Serving as a visible change agent, coach, and mentor, this role fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement while delivering measurable business results.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic & Business Leadership
Lead development and execution of business strategy.
Manage the business unit P&L, focusing on cost optimization, while supporting revenue growth.
Translate enterprise goals into actionable strategies aligned with strengths and opportunities.
Lead business planning and performance forecasting in collaboration with finance and commercial teams.
Partner with the S&OP and HR functions for annual and monthly workforce planning.
Establish, monitor & improve key performance indicators (KPIs), analyze operational data, and implement corrective actions to achieve production, quality, safety, and financial targets
Operational Excellence
Oversee all manufacturing and production processes to ensure efficiency and quality.
Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives to eliminate waste, optimize workflows and deliver measurable results.
Ensure optimal utilization of labor, materials, and equipment to meet customer demand.
Champion compliance with safety regulations and quality standards.
Customer & Commercial Alignment
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Customer Care to align operations with market needs.
Ensure timely and high-quality execution of customer orders.
Support product innovation, customer onboarding, and strategic account growth.
Provide operational insights for pricing and go-to-market strategies.
Provide tours for customers, with a focus on listening for suggestions and improvement opportunities.
Leadership & Culture
Inspire a team of managers, frontline, and professional staff.
Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop production leaders, managing robust succession plans.
Foster a culture of ownership, engagement, continuous improvement, and inclusion.
Promote open communication and alignment with business objectives.
Work closely with peers in HR to lead variable labor, ensuring staffing is aligned with business plans and providing ample growth & development opportunities.
Models PCNA values and the company Code of Conduct.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Collaborate with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Customer Care, Sales and other functional leaders to align priorities, resolve operational challenges, and improve customer experience
Lead participation in enterprise-wide projects and system enhancements.
Serve as the senior escalation point for operational and customer-impacting issues.
Required Skills/Abilities:
Proven success in P&L management and operational leadership.
Experience in facility operations, safety, and capital planning.
Understanding of end-to-end customer operations.
Strong commercial acumen and cross-functional collaboration.
Effective leadership presence and communication.
Prior leadership over both frontline and salaried teams.
Familiarity with ERP systems and production planning tools.
Demonstrated experience applying Lean Manufacturing and other process improvement methods.
Strong understanding of budgeting, labor management, cost control, capital planning, performance metrics, and financial analysis to drive business results
Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate complex operational challenges, leverage data, and implement practical, results-oriented solutions.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively engage frontline employees, leadership, and executive stakeholders while driving alignment around operational priorities
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered
Minimum of 8 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including experience leading production teams in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
Bilingual Requirement: Fluency in English and Spanish is required, with the ability to communicate effectively in both languages with a diverse workforce and across all levels of the organization.
Proficiency with manufacturing systems and Microsoft Office applications, including advanced Excel and Power BI for data analysis and reporting.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Directly supervises a team of production managers and department supervisors.
Responsible for developing and leading team members to meet operational goals and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to work in an environment that requires occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds and navigating around operational equipment.
Frequent use of a computer and other office equipment for reporting, planning and communication.
