Director of Operations
Tonia Deal Talent Acquisition Inc., Fort Wayne, IN, United States
Collaborative Organization seeking a a Servant Leader.
High Growth and open to relocate the right candidate!
Reports to the President. Dynamic and fast-growing custom metal fabricator specializing in laser/plasma cutting, forming, welding including robotics, wet paint, powder coating and assembly services. We serve a diverse range of industries including telecommunications, AI infrastructure, automotive, industrial equipment and large storage containment to name a few. Our commitment to quality, speed, and client satisfaction sets us apart in the contract manufacturing space. We build in multiple facilities in Northeast Indiana with over 300,000 sf of manufacturing space. Our core values include Built with Integrity, Driven for Success and Focused on Partnerships. Position Summary: We are seeking a high-energy, strategic, and hands-on Director of Operations to lead our three metal fabrication facilities. This role is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive operating strategy to drive double-digit growth, while building and mentoring a high-performing operations team. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in contract metal manufacturing and a passion for delivering exceptional client experience. The Director of Operations will standardize processes across locations, develop leaders, improve throughput and efficiency, and partner closely with Sales and Engineering to support profitable growth and exceptional customer service. There are 6 direct reports: Plant managers, Facilities Maintenance, Quality Manager, Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing Engineering/Process. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Lead daily operations across all three facilities, ensuring consistent execution of safety, quality, delivery, and productivity standards Establish clear expectations, metrics, and accountability for plant managers and department leaders Drive a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and operational excellence People Leadership & Development Build, mentor, and develop Plant Managers and department leadership Support workforce planning, skill development, and succession planning Partner with HR on staffing strategies, performance management, and employee engagement Financial & Strategic Management Own operational budgets, labor planning, and cost controls Identify capital investment needs and support ROI-based decision-making Partner with executive leadership on short- and long-term operational strategy Safety & Compliance Champion a strong safety culture with zero tolerance for unsafe behavior Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards Lead incident investigations and corrective actions Process & Performance Management Standardize manufacturing processes and best practices across cutting, forming, welding, paint, powder coat, and assembly Drive Lean manufacturing initiatives including waste reduction, throughput improvement, and setup time reduction Monitor and improve key KPIs such as OTD, scrap, rework, labor efficiency, and capacity utilization Quality & Continuous Improvement Partner with Quality to ensure consistent product quality and customer satisfaction Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for quality or delivery issues Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate with Sales and Engineering to support new product introductions, customer requirements, and capacity planning Partner with Supply Chain to ensure material availability, inventory optimization, and supplier performance Support customer visits, audits, and strategic account relationships as needed Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience) 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in metal fabrication or similar manufacturing environment Multi-site manufacturing leadership experience Strong working knowledge of: CNC cutting (laser, plasma, waterjet, or similar) Forming and press brake operations Welding processes including robotics Blast, paint and powder coat operations Assembly and material flow Proven experience driving Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives Preferred MBA or advanced degree Experience scaling operations or supporting organizational growth Six Sigma or Lean certification Key Competencies Results-driven operational leadership Strong people manager and coach Data-driven decision-making Change management and standardization Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability Performance Metrics (Examples) Safety performance On-time delivery Scrap and rework reduction Labor efficiency and productivity EBT and operational cost performance Employee engagement and leadership development Opportunity to lead and shape operations across multiple facilities High-impact role with visibility and influence across the organization Growing company with a focus on operational excellence and continuous improvement EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
High Growth and open to relocate the right candidate!
Reports to the President. Dynamic and fast-growing custom metal fabricator specializing in laser/plasma cutting, forming, welding including robotics, wet paint, powder coating and assembly services. We serve a diverse range of industries including telecommunications, AI infrastructure, automotive, industrial equipment and large storage containment to name a few. Our commitment to quality, speed, and client satisfaction sets us apart in the contract manufacturing space. We build in multiple facilities in Northeast Indiana with over 300,000 sf of manufacturing space. Our core values include Built with Integrity, Driven for Success and Focused on Partnerships. Position Summary: We are seeking a high-energy, strategic, and hands-on Director of Operations to lead our three metal fabrication facilities. This role is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive operating strategy to drive double-digit growth, while building and mentoring a high-performing operations team. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in contract metal manufacturing and a passion for delivering exceptional client experience. The Director of Operations will standardize processes across locations, develop leaders, improve throughput and efficiency, and partner closely with Sales and Engineering to support profitable growth and exceptional customer service. There are 6 direct reports: Plant managers, Facilities Maintenance, Quality Manager, Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing Engineering/Process. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Lead daily operations across all three facilities, ensuring consistent execution of safety, quality, delivery, and productivity standards Establish clear expectations, metrics, and accountability for plant managers and department leaders Drive a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and operational excellence People Leadership & Development Build, mentor, and develop Plant Managers and department leadership Support workforce planning, skill development, and succession planning Partner with HR on staffing strategies, performance management, and employee engagement Financial & Strategic Management Own operational budgets, labor planning, and cost controls Identify capital investment needs and support ROI-based decision-making Partner with executive leadership on short- and long-term operational strategy Safety & Compliance Champion a strong safety culture with zero tolerance for unsafe behavior Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards Lead incident investigations and corrective actions Process & Performance Management Standardize manufacturing processes and best practices across cutting, forming, welding, paint, powder coat, and assembly Drive Lean manufacturing initiatives including waste reduction, throughput improvement, and setup time reduction Monitor and improve key KPIs such as OTD, scrap, rework, labor efficiency, and capacity utilization Quality & Continuous Improvement Partner with Quality to ensure consistent product quality and customer satisfaction Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for quality or delivery issues Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate with Sales and Engineering to support new product introductions, customer requirements, and capacity planning Partner with Supply Chain to ensure material availability, inventory optimization, and supplier performance Support customer visits, audits, and strategic account relationships as needed Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience) 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in metal fabrication or similar manufacturing environment Multi-site manufacturing leadership experience Strong working knowledge of: CNC cutting (laser, plasma, waterjet, or similar) Forming and press brake operations Welding processes including robotics Blast, paint and powder coat operations Assembly and material flow Proven experience driving Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives Preferred MBA or advanced degree Experience scaling operations or supporting organizational growth Six Sigma or Lean certification Key Competencies Results-driven operational leadership Strong people manager and coach Data-driven decision-making Change management and standardization Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability Performance Metrics (Examples) Safety performance On-time delivery Scrap and rework reduction Labor efficiency and productivity EBT and operational cost performance Employee engagement and leadership development Opportunity to lead and shape operations across multiple facilities High-impact role with visibility and influence across the organization Growing company with a focus on operational excellence and continuous improvement EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER