Director of Operations

The Garland Company, Inc.; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

The Garland Company, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations to lead and optimize national roofing platform operations, spanning manufacturing, supply chain, and customer service.

You will partner with plant managers, drive KPIs, and implement Lean workflows to enhance productivity and safety. The role requires 10+ years of leadership in heavy industrial operations, strong P&L and CapEx acumen, and ability to travel up to 20–40%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Operations Management, or Engineering is required.
• MBA preferred; in lieu of degree, a comparable combination of education, certification(s), and experience may be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive operations, supply chain, and manufacturing leadership experience in building products or related heavy industrial sectors.
• Experience with multi-site plant operations, global/domestic logistics, and large-scale inventory management.
• Strong background in P&L management, cost accounting, balance sheet/working capital optimization, financial modeling, and CapEx justification.
• Proficiency in ERP/WMS systems (e.g., SAP), demand forecasting, S&OP execution, 3PL management, and inventory cycle controls.
• Applied expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma principles (Black Belt preferred), and workflow standardization.
• Ability to read and write specifications, solve problems, and work independently or in a team; strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, scale, and optimize multi-site manufacturing and distribution facilities supporting national roofing product lines.
• Establish operational KPIs, capacity planning, and Lean workflows; drive productivity and safety across all manufacturing operations.
• Oversee domestic and global procurement, freight tracking, customs/3PL, and inbound material flow; manage inventory across regional hubs.
• Collaborate with sales and finance to bridge production capabilities with commercial targets; lead S&OP processes.

Skills

Operations leadership

Lean manufacturing

P&L management

Strategic planning

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

Job description

The Director of Operations provides executive leadership, operational strategy, and commercial

alignment across manufacturing, supply chain management, customer services, and field sales

execution for a national roofing platform. Reporting to executive leadership, this role oversees

end-to-end plant operations, inventory control, global/domestic procurement, logistics, and

vendor management, while bridging operational capability directly with commercial sales

CORE & ESSENTIAL:

TASKS:

Operations, Manufacturing & Footprint Optimization

• Lead, scale, and optimize multi-site manufacturing and distribution facilities supporting national roofing product lines.
• Act as the strategic partner to Plant Managers and facility leaders, establishing, operational KPIs, capacity planning, and Lean production workflows (e.g., Just-In-Time staging, Kanban, damage mitigation).
• Drive operational excellence, plant floor productivity, safety protocol compliance, and continuous improvement across all manufacturing operations.
• Evaluate manufacturing footprint efficiency, lead operational integration of acquisitions/expansions, and partner with third-party contract manufacturers to reduce cost structures.

Supply Chain Management & Inventory Control

• Oversee comprehensive supply chain management, encompassing domestic and global procurement, freight tracking, customs/3PL management, and inbound material flow.
• Lead national inventory capacity control, factory warehouse storage utilization, raw material stock levels, and finished goods placement across all regional hubs.
• Direct inventory accuracy programs, cycle counting, safety stock calculations, ERP/WMS system governance, and demand forecasting aligned with national sales cadence.
• Proactively identify geopolitical risks, material shortages, and freight delays to implement data-driven contingency plans, eliminating supply-driven delivery bottlenecks.

Financial Acumen & Strategic Execution

• Maintain oversight of operational budgets, COGS, inventory valuation, and unit economics to drive EBITDA expansion and working capital optimization.
• Build financial models, capital expenditure (CapEx) business cases, and cost-benefit analyses for supply chain investments, footprint consolidations, and equipment upgrades.
• Lead annual operating plans (AOP), operational forecasting, margin bridge analysis, and cost reduction strategies in tandem with finance leadership.
• Implement disciplined Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to bridge corporate financial targets with production capabilities and sales demand.
• Serve as the executive operational liaison between plant production/supply chain teams and national sales organizations, ensuring seamless order execution and high customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with sales leadership on commercial execution, regional product availability, long-term demand planning, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Align manufacturing schedules, distribution hubs, and supplier agreements to support sales growth, new product introductions (NPI), and market share expansion.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Operations

Management, or Engineering is required. Advanced degree (MBA) preferred. In lieu of a degree,

a comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience (including

military service) may be considered. 10+ years of progressive operations, supply chain, and

manufacturing leadership experience within building products, roofing, construction materials, or

related heavy industrial sectors required. Demonstrated track record of oversight in multi-site

plant operations, global/domestic logistics, and large-scale inventory management. Strong

background in P&L management support, cost accounting, Balance Sheet/working capital

optimization, financial modeling, and CapEx justification. Proficiency in enterprise ERP/WMS

systems (e.g., SAP), demand forecasting, S&OP execution, 3PL management, and inventory cycle controls. Applied expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma principles (Six Sigma Black

Belt preferred), and workflow standardization. Demonstrate an aptitude to read and write

specifications as well as possess strong problem-solving skills and the ability to determine

solutions for customers. Must be results-oriented and able to work both independently and within

a team environment. Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite applications. Adherence to health and safety

regulations (e.g. use of protective gear). Willingness and ability to travel to visit production

plants, regional distribution hubs, and commercial sales meetings (up to 20-40% travel

required). Driving is a requirement for this position. Must have the ability to travel both

domestically and internationally, so the ability to travel by plane, operate a motor vehicle and

maintain a driver's license are required. Must have a vehicle in good working condition and

ensure it meets all safety, insurance, and legal requirements. Overnight domestic and

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to communicate orally in a clear, concise and effective manner with the customers, account representatives, company representatives, management, staff, and the public in face-to-

face, one-on-one and group settings. Ability to use a telephone for communication. Ability to maintain regular, predictable, and punctual attendance at the facility or assigned job locations is

essential. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Use

office equipment such as a personal computer, copier and facsimile machines. Ability to

communicate in writing in a clear, concise and effective manner. Sit, walk and/or stand for

extended time periods. Hearing and vision required to be within normal ranges. Ability to

accurately distinguish color variation. Carry, push, pull, reach and lift up to 50 lbs. Read at,

above, and below shoulder height. Occasionally stoop, kneel or crouch. Sufficient manual

dexterity required to operate equipment. Normal range of tolerance to household and other types

of typical industrial/ construction chemicals and solvents. Must have the ability to travel by

plane, operate a motor vehicle, maintain a valid state motor vehicle driver license, and maintain

an acceptable motor vehicle driving record. Ability to occasionally work evenings, weekends,

and overnight travel required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

The Company is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for

employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, military status,

protected veteran status, marital status, gender identity or expression, transgender status,

citizenship, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic under

The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others,

individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a

disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with The Company, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] to let us know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact