We're Hiring: Director, Operations

Location: South Deerfield, MA
Company: Pelican

What You'll Do:

Lead the operation. Transform the culture. Raise the bar for manufacturing excellence.

Pelican is seeking a dynamic Senior Director of Operations to lead manufacturing operations at our South Deerfield facility. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for driving performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and People (SQDCIP) while building an engaged, accountable, and high-performing organization.

We're looking for a manufacturing leader who knows how to transform operations-not simply maintain them. You'll lead a complex plastics manufacturing environment, leverage Lean and data to improve performance, develop the next generation of leaders, and help create a state-of-the-art operation positioned for long-term growth.

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and drive performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and People
• Build a culture of Operational Excellence, accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement throughout the facility
• Champion Lean Daily Management through Gemba, tier meetings, Hour-by-Hour boards, Layered Process Audits, visual management, and cascading KPIs
• Drive a world-class 6S and safety culture, proactively identifying risks and implementing improvements in equipment, tooling, ergonomics, processes, and employee behaviors
• Lead production teams to consistently achieve customer, quality, cost, productivity, and delivery commitments
• Use data and analytics to identify performance gaps, solve problems at the root cause, and turn insights into measurable action
• Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and New Product Development to successfully introduce new products and support profitable growth
• Drive innovative manufacturing solutions including poka-yoke, visual controls, digital work instructions, process controls, and other technologies that improve quality and execution
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase throughput, reduce waste and cost, improve inventory performance, and strengthen manufacturing capability
• Optimize manufacturing inventory systems and ensure effective material flow, inventory accuracy, and appropriate stocking levels
• Own Operations budgets, proactively manage variances, and execute capital plans that support performance and long-term growth
• Develop and execute strategies that improve the facility, employee experience, and Pelican's ability to attract and retain top manufacturing talent
• Build a strong leadership pipeline by identifying, coaching, developing, and rewarding high performers while proactively addressing performance gaps
• Create a culture that continually raises the bar for leadership, execution, and operational performance
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• Significant experience within plastic injection molding; rotational molding and machining experience are highly desirable
• Proven success leading and transforming complex manufacturing operations
• Strong command of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, structured root cause analysis, and continuous improvement
• Demonstrated experience establishing Lean Daily Management systems, including tier meetings, visual management, Layered Process Audits, and SQDCIP metrics
• Proven ability to improve safety, quality, productivity, delivery, inventory, and cost performance
• Strong operational and financial acumen, including budgeting, capital planning, inventory management, and manufacturing cost management
• Experience with SAP, MRP, MES, BOMs, routings, and manufacturing standards
• Knowledge of demand forecasting, supply planning, capacity, and inventory management within a complex manufacturing environment
• Strong change leadership skills with the ability to create urgency, challenge the status quo, and sustain improvements
• Track record of building high-performing teams and developing strong manufacturing leaders
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across Operations and corporate functions

What's In It For You:

Join a company that truly values its employees! We offer a relaxed and casual work environment, a strong commitment to giving back to communities, and a focus on employee satisfaction. With regular opportunities to share feedback with leadership and structured performance evaluations, we ensure that your voice is heard and your growth is supported.

• Competitive paid time off plans / Holiday pay /extra vacation purchase opportunities

• 401k plan - with immediate match

• Great Benefits - several options including Pet insurance for our animal lovers.
• Health Savings Account Contribution

• Wellness Discount Program

• Global Mental Wellness Program
• Quarterly Employee Celebration Days
• Peer to Peer Recognition Program
• Service Recognition Program

• Amazing employee discount program on Pelican Products, Pelican branded apparel and gear

• Employee referral program - get paid to work with your trusted network.
• Beautiful New England location

• Onsite Gym

• Established reputable brand offering premium products - you'll be proud to represent Pelican!

• And more...

Compensation & Benefits:
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets. Base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The annual U.S. pay range for this position is listed below. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on your qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process. We also offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off, 10 paid holidays per year, medical/dental/vision insurance, company-paid life and disability plans, and matching 401k to eligible employees.