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
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
Results‑driven operational leadership
Strong people manager and coach
Change management and standardization
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration
Strategic thinker with hands‑on execution capability
Performance Metrics (Examples)
Safety performance
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
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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
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
Results‑driven operational leadership
Strong people manager and coach
Change management and standardization
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration
Strategic thinker with hands‑on execution capability
Performance Metrics (Examples)
Safety performance
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
#J-18808-Ljbffr