Dir of Operations - Single Site

Industry: Manufacturing – Forest Products and Animal Comfort Products

Work Locations acceptable: Crockett, TX (with occasional travel to Eastern MD)

Position Summary: Our client, an award-winning and fast-growing manufacturing & packaging company, is seeking a Director of Operations for the Crockett, TX facility. This role will report directly to the CEO. The Director of Operations will be the on-site leader responsible for daily plant operations, including production, maintenance, safety, quality, and shipping. This individual will ensure reliable, efficient, and cost-effective operations while fostering a culture of teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and has a passion for operational excellence.

This role oversees wood shavings and pellet manufacturing operations and logistics to profitably meet customer demand for high-quality animal bedding products. This includes managing raw material flow, drying processes, packaging, and inventory movement to ensure efficient throughput and reliable delivery.

• Bachelors Degree preferred, equivalent experience considered
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing experience with at least 3 years in a leadership role overseeing production or plant operations.
• Demonstrated success managing teams, driving performance, and fostering a culture of accountability.
• Proven ability to implement and sustain Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of safety, quality, maintenance, and production metrics.
• Experience with ERP systems and production analytics.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to coach and develop team members.

• Experience in wood products, animal bedding, or other bulk/packaged goods manufacturing environments preferred.
• Certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent preferred.

• Maintain compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, including OSHA, EPA, and NFPA standards
• Conduct safety audits, corrective action reviews, and team safety meetings to support a strong safety-first culture
• Manage combustible dust hazards and fire prevention in accordance with NFPA guidelines
• Drive continuous improvement in safety performance and incident reduction

• Maintain high product quality through monitoring yield, scrap, and first-pass success rates
• Utilize quality management systems to ensure consistent, specification-compliant product output

• Lead all aspects of plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets
• Manage raw material supply, chipper/shaver performance, drying operations, packaging, and inventory flow
• Monitor OEE, throughput, yield, downtime, and related performance measures; implement corrective actions when needed
• Improve productivity through operational focus on throughput and capacity utilization

• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize uptime and equipment life
• Manage maintenance activities, spare parts availability, and cost control for optimal asset performance
• Ensure reliability and safe operation of shavers, dryers, conveyors, bagging lines, forklifts, and dust collection systems

• Achieve on-time, in-full delivery performance through coordinated material and finished goods flow
• Maintain proper packaging, storage, and shipment readiness to support customer delivery requirements
• Provide leadership and mentorship to plant supervisors and hourly team members
• Build a culture that promotes accountability, safety, continuous learning, and strong employee engagement
• Establish clear performance expectations and manage training programs to support role proficiency and growth
• Improve employee engagement, retention, and skill development

• Manage plant operating budgets and drive cost-reduction initiatives
• Track and improve key performance indicators related to cost, productivity, and efficiency
• Ensure adherence to budget targets and business performance goals
• Support capacity planning and capital initiatives including equipment upgrades, automation, and facility improvements
• Partner with leadership to align capital projects with long-term plant strategy and growth objectives

• Champion Lean principles to eliminate waste and improve flow
• Lead daily production meetings and apply data-driven problem solving to improve results
• Drive initiatives that enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness

• Use ERP systems and production analytics to track performance and support operational decision-making
• Promote accuracy and transparency in reporting, KPIs, and data-driven…