Director of Operations

RLS Rapid Locking System; Hazelwood (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Competitive compensation

Job summary

RLS, part of Marmon Holdings and Berkshire Hathaway, seeks a Director of Operations in Hazelwood, MO to lead all manufacturing operations, drive operational excellence, and align production, engineering, quality, and supply chain functions. The role focuses on safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets across multiple shifts.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in manufacturing operations, with deep Lean, 5S, and continuous improvement experience, and strong leadership across multi‑shift

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years’ experience in operations management within manufacturing.
• In-depth knowledge of lean manufacturing and 5S principles.
• Proven leadership in multi-shift manufacturing environments.
• Experience with Lean, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Direct all manufacturing operations across multiple shifts ensuring safety, quality, delivery and cost targets.
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain and leadership teams.
• Cultivate a culture of accountability, high performance, safety and 5S excellence.
• Lead long-term capacity planning, workforce development and strategy.
• Apply Kaizen, value stream mapping and standardized work to improve flow.
• Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee process engineering to standardize workflows and improve OEE.
• Guide production planning, scheduling and capital planning decisions.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S principles

Kaizen

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Operational excellence

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

RLS LLC

As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.

Company: Rapid Locking System (RLS)

Job Title: Director of Operations

Location: Hazelwood, MO (On-Site)

Who We Are RLS is part of Marmon Plumbing and Refrigeration. They revolutionized the HVAC and refrigeration industries when they introduced their press-to-connect fittings back in 2015. Now they have over 15 million installations globally, and their known for reliable solutions in high-pressure HVAC/Refrigeration situations.

As part of Marmon Holdings, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, RLS combines the close-knit partnership of a smaller business with the resources and connectivity of a global organization. Here, people are encouraged to do work that matters, lead at every level, and win a better way through collaboration, continuous improvement, and meaningful results.

What You’ll Do

As the Director of Operations, you will act as a key executive leader responsible for directing all manufacturing operations, driving operational excellence, and ensuring strong alignment between production, engineering, quality, and supply chain functions. This position plays a critical role in shaping operational strategy, improving performance, and developing scalable systems that support growth.

• Provide executive oversight of all plant operations across multiple shifts to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are met.
• Partner closely with engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and leadership teams to achieve seamless production execution.
• Build and sustain a culture of accountability, high performance, safety, and 5S excellence.
• Lead long‑term capacity planning, workforce development, and operational strategy.
• Champion Lean methodologies to eliminate waste, improve flow, and enhance operational performance.
• Guide teams in applying Kaizen, 5 Whys, value stream mapping, standardized work, and visual management practices.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) that support daily management and strategic improvement goals.
• Drive a continuous improvement mindset at all levels of the organization.
• Oversee process engineering initiatives that standardize workflows, reduce variability, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Implement systems and processes that improve production planning, efficiency, and product flow.
• Ensure operational processes are designed for quality, repeatability, and safety.
• Make strategic and operational decisions related to production, scheduling, resource allocation, process improvements, and capital planning.
• Evaluate capital investment needs and support business cases for equipment, facilities, and technology upgrades.
• Lead cost‑control strategies tied to labor efficiency, scrap reduction, maintenance performance, and operational improvements.
• Oversee operations budgets and ensure financial targets are met.
• Approve capital expenditures, operational investments, and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Monitor key cost drivers and lead actions to improve financial performance.
• Direct leadership of plant operations teams, including production managers, supervisors, and leads.
• Oversight of continuous improvement, process engineering, and operational support functions.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years’ experience in operations management within a manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge and practical experience with lean manufacturing, automation technologies, and 5S principles.
• Extensive leadership experience in manufacturing operations and multi‑shift production environments.
• Strong expertise in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Proven ability to lead plant‑level and group‑level process improvement initiatives.
• Experience driving large‑scale operational projects such as plant optimization or workflow redesign.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to build high‑performing teams and influence operations across multiple organizations within a corporate group.

What You’ll Gain

You will join a team where your contributions can make a visible difference. In addition, eligible employees may receive:

• Competitive compensation aligned with the role, experience, and location.
• Medical, dental, prescription, and vision coverage.
• A 401(k) plan with company match.
• Opportunities to learn, build new skills, and contribute to meaningful business results.

Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to [e-mail], and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.