Director of Operations

Bell & Associates, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Bell & Associates, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations to lead manufacturing and operational strategy across a multi-site international footprint.

The role focuses on safety, quality, productivity, capacity, cost improvement, supply chain effectiveness, and profitable growth. The ideal candidate blends strategic leadership with hands-on manufacturing experience and excels in a decentralized, results-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership experience.
• Experience leading multi-site or global manufacturing operations.
• Strong background in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, operational excellence.
• Experience with manufacturing capacity planning, capital investments, supply chain, quality, and safety.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to link operational performance to P&L results.
• Proven track record leading organizational change and building high-performing teams.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and executive leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the global manufacturing and operations strategy with senior leadership.
• Lead long-range planning, annual initiatives, and manufacturing optimization efforts.
• Evaluate capacity, productivity, and utilization across multiple locations.
• Develop capital investment and operational improvement plans.
• Drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
• Lead capacity and production planning, forecasting, and target setting.
• Collaborate with sourcing and supply chain leaders to improve operations.
• Identify productivity, sourcing, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Establish KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve performance.
• Champion Lean and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Build and lead high-performing operations teams across locations.
• Drive organizational development, succession planning, and change management.
• Align operational initiatives with P&L objectives with commercial and financial leadership.

Job description

Chicago Suburbs | Global Manufacturing Organization

We are partnering with a well-established global manufacturing organization to identify a Director of Operations to lead manufacturing and operational strategy across a multi-site international footprint.

This is a highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the senior executive responsible for the business. The Director of Operations will have responsibility for driving operational performance across domestic and international manufacturing locations, with a focus on safety, quality, productivity, capacity, cost improvement, supply chain effectiveness, and profitable growth.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of strategic leadership and hands‑on manufacturing experience and will be comfortable operating in a decentralized, results‑driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the global manufacturing and operations strategy in partnership with senior leadership.
• Lead long-range operational planning, annual operating initiatives, and manufacturing optimization efforts.
• Evaluate manufacturing capacity, capabilities, productivity, and utilization across multiple locations.
• Develop and execute capital investment and operational improvement plans.
• Drive best‑in‑class performance across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Lead capacity planning, production planning, forecasting, and operational target setting.
• Partner with manufacturing, sourcing, and supply chain leaders to improve global and regional operations.
• Identify and execute productivity, sourcing, and cost‑reduction opportunities.
• Establish and monitor key operational KPIs and implement corrective actions to improve performance.
• Champion Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies throughout the organization.
• Build, develop, and lead high‑performing operations teams across multiple locations.
• Drive organizational development, succession planning, accountability, and change management.
• Partner closely with commercial and financial leadership to ensure operational initiatives translate into measurable business and P&L improvement.

Ideal Background

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership experience.
• Experience leading a sizable, complex manufacturing operation.
• Multi‑site and/or global manufacturing leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Strong background in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and productivity improvement.
• Experience with manufacturing capacity planning, capital investments, supply chain, quality, and safety.
• Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to connect operational performance to P&L results.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change and developing high‑performing teams.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and executive leadership skills.
• Ability to work effectively across geographically dispersed teams and operations.