Operations Director

Position Summary

The Operations Director is responsible for leading and coordinating key operational functions of the manufacturing facility, including Production Planning, Supply Chain, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Infrastructure/Construction Engineering.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring production readiness, material availability, operational continuity, regulatory compliance, facility development, and cross-functional execution.

The Operations Director will work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, and other functional leaders to support safe, efficient, and scalable operations of the Chicago manufacturing facility.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Planning & Operations Coordination

• Lead production planning and scheduling based on demand, capacity, materials, and priorities.
• Develop and manage short- and long-term production plans.
• Coordinate manpower, equipment, and materials to achieve production targets.
• Monitor plan execution and identify delivery risks.
• Drive cross-functional efforts to resolve production and operational constraints.
• Track key KPIs, including production attainment, inventory, material availability, delivery, and efficiency.
• Support S&OP and capacity planning processes.

1. Supply Chain Management

• Lead plant supply chain operations, including production planning, materials, procurement, inventory, warehousing, and logistics.
• Ensure material availability while maintaining optimal inventory levels.
• Improve inventory turnover and reduce excess and obsolete stock.
• Drive supplier performance and supply continuity.
• Identify supply chain risks and implement contingency plans.
• Manage domestic and international logistics activities.
• Lead continuous improvement in cost, efficiency, and delivery performance.

1. Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)

• Lead the plant’s EHS programs and team to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
• Promote a strong safety culture and drive workplace safety initiatives.
• Oversee inspections, risk assessments, corrective actions, and emergency preparedness.
• Monitor EHS performance and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve safety and compliance.
• Support regulatory audits, inspections, and permitting activities.

1. Infrastructure & Construction Engineering

• Lead facility engineering, infrastructure, and construction projects supporting plant operations.
• Oversee plant expansion, renovations, and infrastructure improvements.
• Manage contractors, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Ensure projects meet scope, budget, schedule, quality, and safety requirements.
• Maintain critical facility systems, utilities, and infrastructure readiness.
• Support production line installation, commissioning, and facility startup activities.

1. Operational Excellence & Cross-Functional Management

• Establish and manage operational processes across planning, supply chain, EHS, and infrastructure.
• Lead operational reviews and drive action item completion.
• Identify and escalate operational risks to plant leadership.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, cost, delivery, inventory, and efficiency.
• Drive KPI-based decision-making and operational visibility.
• Support ERP/MRP and digitalization initiatives.
• Foster collaboration across Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Finance, HR, and IT.

1. Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor managers and operational teams.
• Establish organizational structure, goals, and succession plans.
• Recruit, develop, and retain key talent.
• Drive performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a collaborative, safety-focused, high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain, production planning, engineering, or related functions.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing managers and/or multiple operational functions.
• Strong experience in large-scale manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience in production planning, supply chain management, and plant operations.
• Working knowledge of EHS management and U.S. regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting facility construction, plant expansion, infrastructure, or manufacturing engineering projects strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems; SAP experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in lithium-ion battery, EV, automotive, energy storage, electronics, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience supporting the launch or ramp-up of a new manufacturing facility in the United States.
• Experience managing complex global supply chains.
• Familiarity with high-volume automated manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with international and cross-cultural teams.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, S&OP, inventory optimization, and operational excellence methodologies.
• PMP, APICS/CPIM/CSCP, Six Sigma, or related professional certification is a plus.

Key Performance Indicators

Key performance measures may include:

Production Planning: Production Plan Attainment | Capacity Utilization | Schedule Adherence

Supply Chain: On-Time Delivery | Material Availability | Inventory Turns | Inventory Accuracy | Logistics Cost

EHS: Safety Incident Rate | Corrective Action Closure | Regulatory Compliance | Environmental Performance

Infrastructure: Project Schedule | Project Budget | Construction Safety | Facility Readiness | Utility Reliability

Overall Operations: Cost Reduction | Operational Efficiency | Risk Management | Cross-Functional Execution

Leadership Scope

The Operations Director provides leadership and management oversight for:

Production Planning / PMC

Supply Chain & Logistics

Warehouse & Inventory

Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)

Infrastructure / Construction / Facility Engineering  

The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $200,000.00 –$240,000.00, plus eligibility for 20% bonus and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by factors such as the role, level, and geographic location. The range listed in the job posting represents the minimum and maximum target salaries for this position across all U.S. locations. Actual compensation within the range will be influenced by the specific work location, along with factors such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter will provide more details about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the listed compensation reflects the base salary only and does not include bonus or benefits.