Director of Operations

Leddy Group - Rochester, NH

Full-time - Senior

Rochester, NH

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

The Director of Operations position at our Rochester, NH client is a pivotal role that requires a hands-on, proactive leader with a strong background in chemistry, plastics, textiles, or coatings, along with Lean Manufacturing experience. This full-time, direct-hire opportunity offers a collaborative environment and comprehensive benefits, making it an excellent career move for the right candidate. The Director of Operations will oversee daily operations, ensuring that safety, quality, research and development, production, warehouse management, inventory control, and facility maintenance are all functioning optimally. In this role, the Director will conduct market research to identify innovative new products and business opportunities, collaborating closely with suppliers to facilitate new product development experiments and trials. Troubleshooting production issues will be a key responsibility, requiring the Director to conduct root cause analysis and develop as well as implement quality control testing methods. The position also involves optimizing relationships with suppliers and customers, assisting with budgeting, reporting, planning, and auditing, and developing and implementing operational policies and procedures. A significant aspect of this role is fostering a company culture that encourages safety and top performance among all employees. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in Materials, Plastics, Textiles, or Chemical Engineering, along with over 10 years of experience that demonstrates a proven track record of scaling operations from individual contributors to coordinated teams. Experience in textiles, coatings, and plastics is preferred, and a background in chemistry, plastics, textiles, or coatings is a strong plus. Familiarity with ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 Quality Management Systems, as well as experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S methodologies, is essential. The candidate should also be proficient in MS Office and possess strong writing skills, along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations including safety, quality, R&D, production, warehouse, inventory management, and facility maintenance.
• Conduct market research and develop innovative new products and business opportunities.
• Collaborate with suppliers to conduct new product development experiments/trials.
• Troubleshoot production issues, conduct root cause analysis, and develop/implement quality control testing methods.
• Optimize supplier and customer relationships.
• Assist with budgeting, reporting, planning, and auditing.
• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures.
• Foster a company culture that encourages safety and top performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Materials, Plastics, Textiles, or Chemical Engineering preferred.
• 10+ years of experience, demonstrating a proven track record of scaling operations from individual contributors to coordinated teams.
• Experience in textiles, coatings, and plastics is preferred; background in chemistry, plastics, textiles, or coatings is a strong plus.
• Background in ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 QMS.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S methodologies; familiar with Kaizen and Five Why problem-solving/analysis techniques.
• Demonstrated R&D success.
• MS Office proficiency and strong writing skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Collaborative work environment