Director of Operations

Director of Operations

Location:

Knoxville, TN (US HQ)

Schedule:

Hybrid with 3-4 days onsite per week in Knoxville, TN depending on regional travel to internal manufacturing plants.

Travel:
Up to 25% annually

• Serve as the senior operational leader bridging corporate project management and plant execution.
• Own operational accountability for project delivery, production capacity, and schedule adherence.
• Ensure realistic commitments are made to customers based on actual production capacity and constraints.

• Provide strategic oversight of the regional hallmark manufacturing facility (150+ employees, three shifts, 24/7 operations).
• Lead through the Plant Manager to ensure safety, quality, throughput, and workforce effectiveness.
• Bring deep technical understanding of sign manufacturing, metal fabrication, welding, and CNC processes.

• Own demand planning, production scheduling, and workflow optimization across projects and production.
• Partner closely with Supply Chain to improve material availability, lead times, and inventory flow.
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks that cause missed delivery commitments or production delays.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using metrics, data, and operational KPIs.
• Improve forecasting accuracy, capacity planning, and ERP utilization.
• Drive standardization of processes across project intake, scheduling, production, and delivery.

• Partner closely with Project Management leadership, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Influence without direct authority across customer-facing teams to improve internal communication and execution.
• Lead change management initiatives in a complex, multi-site environment.

• Measurable improvement in on-time delivery and schedule adherence.
• Clear ownership and accountability for forecasting and production scheduling.
• Process optimization and continuous improvement of internal systems from sales, design, and project management departments through manufacturing/production.
• Improved production throughput and capacity utilization. Cost avoidance and reduction initiatives.
• A stabilized, scalable operational structure that supports future growth.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience in sign manufacturing or metal fabrication will be strongly considered.
• Senior operations leadership experience within sign manufacturing (required) or closely related engineered-to-order metal fabrication environments.
• Demonstrated success connecting highly customized, client-specific orders to large-scale manufacturing operations, translating unique customer requirements into executable production plans.
• Proven experience operating end to end within a project-driven manufacturing business model, balancing customer commitments, production capacity, and delivery timelines.
• Track record overseeing multi-site or complex manufacturing operations with strong alignment between customer-facing teams and plant execution.
• Strong expertise in supply chain management, production planning, workflow optimization, and quality systems.
• Hands-on experience leveraging ERP systems to support scheduling, forecasting, and operational reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, drive continuous improvement, and enforce accountability through data and performance metrics.

• Base Salary: $140,000 – $175,000
• Bonus: 15% performance-based, tied to production capacity, schedule adherence, and delivery performance

The role offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, short-term and long-term disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with company match, and ongoing education, training, and professional development opportunities.

• Primarily based within an active manufacturing facility, with routine presence in fabrication and welding areas.
• Requires frequent movement throughout the production floor, including extended periods of standing and walking.
• Periodic handling or movement of materials weighing up to approximately 25 pounds.
• Mandatory compliance with all safety protocols, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment in designated production zones.