Director of Operations

KDM Engineering; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth and advancement opportunities

Competitive compensation

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off & holidays

Flexible work schedules

Professional development

Job summary

KDM Engineering in Chicago is seeking a Director of Operations to translate growth into scalable systems and cross‑functional alignment. You will partner with the CEO and executive team, leading HR, IT, Administration, facilities, and vendor management to drive consistent execution.

The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and an executor who can turn plans into action, establish KPIs, and foster accountability and continuous improvement across the organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations management.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into clear executable plans.
• Strong interpersonal skills with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Experience building scalable processes and KPIs.
• Comfortable working with an entrepreneurial CEO in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with CEO and leadership to translate strategic priorities into actionable operational plans.
• Develop scalable processes, systems, and resources to support growth.
• Provide leadership across HR, IT, Administration, facilities, and vendor relationships.
• Evaluate performance and drive efficiency, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead strategic initiatives from concept to implementation with clear ownership and timelines.
• Develop and monitor KPIs and metrics to inform leadership.
• Align operations with business objectives across Engineering, Finance, HR, Recruiting, and Business Development.
• Standardize workflows through technology, automation, and continuous improvement.
• Support department leaders to remove barriers and provide necessary tools and resources.
• Coordinate high-priority cross-department initiatives supporting company-wide growth.

Skills

Strategic thinker

Execution oriented

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Communication with executives

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Build the Future with KDM Engineering At KDM Engineering, growth has always been driven by strong people, trusted partnerships, and a commitment to delivering exceptional work. As an award‑winning, minority‑and woman‑owned engineering firm, KDM continues to expand its capabilities, teams, and reach.

Director of Operations

At KDM Engineering, growth has always been driven by strong people, trusted partnerships, and a commitment to delivering exceptional work. As an award‑winning, minority‑and woman‑owned engineering firm, KDM continues to expand its capabilities, teams, and reach.

As we enter our next stage of growth, we are making a proactive investment in the operational infrastructure that will support where we are going next.

We are seeking a strategic, hands‑on Director of Operations who can help translate growth into scalable systems, strong cross‑functional alignment, and consistent execution. This individual will work closely with the CEO and executive leadership team while providing leadership and support across key corporate functions, including HR, IT, and Administration.

The right person is both a strategic thinker and an executor—someone who can assess how the organization is operating, anticipate what will be needed next, identify opportunities for improvement, and turn ideas into practical plans that move the business forward.

Salary range: $140,000- $160,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

What You’ll Do

• Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into clear, executable operational plans.
• Anticipate the operational needs of a growing organization and develop scalable processes, systems, and resources to support continued expansion.
• Provide leadership and oversight across key corporate support functions, including HR, IT coordination, Administration, facilities, and vendor relationships.
• Evaluate operational performance and identify opportunities to strengthen efficiency, communication, accountability, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Lead strategic initiatives from concept through implementation, establishing clear priorities, ownership, timelines, and measures of success.
• Develop and monitor meaningful KPIs and operational metrics that provide leadership with visibility into performance, priorities, and emerging needs.
• Partner with Engineering, Finance, HR, Recruiting, and Business Development leaders to align resources and operational priorities with business objectives.
• Strengthen workflows and processes through thoughtful standardization, technology, automation, and continuous improvement.
• Support department leaders in removing operational barriers and ensuring teams have the tools, resources, and support needed to succeed.
• Lead and coordinate high‑priority initiatives that span multiple departments or support company‑wide growth.
• Evaluate systems, vendors, and external partners to ensure they continue to meet the needs of a growing organization.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred), or equivalent relevant experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations management or a related leadership capacity.
• A strong executor who takes ownership and follows initiatives through completion.
• A strategic thinker who can anticipate future operational needs while managing today's priorities.
• An effective and trusted thought partner who can exchange ideas, provide thoughtful perspective, and communicate candidly and constructively with executive leadership.
• Highly relational and able to build credibility across personalities, departments, and levels of the organization.
• Comfortable working closely with an entrepreneurial CEO in a fast‑moving environment.
• Able to translate complex information and evolving priorities into clear decisions, plans, and action items.
• Curious and analytical, with the ability to evaluate existing practices and identify opportunities to make good systems even better.
• Comfortable moving between strategic planning and hands‑on problem‑solving.
• Adaptable, resourceful, and calm when priorities shift or new opportunities emerge.
• A leader who understands that strong operations should enable growth, not slow it down.

Why KDM Engineering

Established in 2012 on a promise to alter the face of engineering, KDM Engineering has built a reputation of excellence in providing outstanding technical services, maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality assurance, and offering a truly inclusive work environment.

Our clients and partners in the public and private sectors consistently recognize KDM for our responsiveness to their needs, budgets, and schedules. Our peers distinguished KDM with Edison Electric Institute’s Diverse Supplier Award, Capital One and Women Presidents’ Organization’s (WPO) 50 Fastest Growing Women‑Owned/Led Companies, and Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.

Our talented, experienced team delivers exceptional engineering designs, project management, and customer support services to each of our projects. Our enduring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is unmatched in our industry. Because our team comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, we bring uniquely different and diverse perspectives to solving complex engineering problems.

At KDM, we know our success begins with our people. We are committed to creating an environment where employees can build rewarding careers, collaborate with talented professionals, and contribute to meaningful projects that improve communities across the country.

• Challenging and meaningful work that makes a real impact on infrastructure and energy
• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Frontloaded Paid time off and 11 company paid holidays
• Flexible work schedules and great work‑life balance
• Professional development, training, and career growth opportunities
• Supportive leadership and a culture that values your ideas
• A collaborative, inclusive, and positive team environment

Benefits & Perks

• Growth and advancement opportunities
• Life, short‑term disability, and long‑term disability insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Parental and maternity leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Volunteer leave
• Sabbatical leave
• Team‑building events and happy hours
• Relaxed office culture with a meditation space, nap room, and nursing mothers' room

Equal Employment Opportunity

KDM Engineering strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

KDM Engineering, What's next? kdmengineering.com