Director of Operations

Solid Rock Recruiting, LLC.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Solid Rock Recruiting, LLC partners with a growing commercial painting contractor in Milwaukee to seek a Director of Operations who will own day-to-day operations, lead projects, and drive growth while preserving profitability.

The role requires an experienced operator who can build processes, coach teams, and collaborate with ownership to set priorities and execute plans that scale the business. Strong budgeting, data-driven decisions, and ownership mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Director of Operations or similar leadership role.
• Proven ability to lead and improve business operations.
• Experience helping a company grow while maintaining profitability.
• Strong budgeting, financial performance, and operational efficiency knowledge.
• Ability to make decisions independently and take ownership of outcomes.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Strategic thinker who can identify what needs to be done and actually implement it.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work closely with ownership.
• Commercial construction, specialty contracting, or painting experience is helpful but not required.
• Ownership mentality and desire to drive growth

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and production across the company.
• Lead and develop project management, field operations, and support teams.
• Oversee scheduling, production planning, job performance, and profitability.
• Identify operational challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Improve processes, systems, technology, and overall company efficiency.
• Take ownership of hiring, training, development, and performance management.
• Work closely with ownership on company goals, priorities, and growth initiatives.
• Bring forward recommendations with a clear plan, expected costs, and anticipated outcomes.
• Help create accountability across the organization and ensure initiatives are implemented.
• Monitor company performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Collaborate with ownership on sales and business development while maintaining primary ownership of operations.
• Help develop and execute the long-term vision and strategy of the company.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Budgeting

Process improvement

People development

Strategic thinking

Job description

Director of Operations

Location: Milwaukee, WI
Industry: Commercial Painting
Job Type: Full-Time

Solid Rock Recruiting is partnering with a growing commercial painting contractor in the Milwaukee area that is looking to add a Director of Operations to help lead the company’s next stage of growth. This is a leadership position for someone who can take ownership of the company’s operations, improve processes, develop people, and help increase annual revenue while maintaining strong profitability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and production across the company
• Lead and develop project management, field operations, and support teams
• Oversee scheduling, production planning, job performance, and profitability
• Identify operational challenges and proactively develop solutions
• Improve processes, systems, technology, and overall company efficiency
• Take ownership of hiring, training, development, and performance management
• Work closely with ownership on company goals, priorities, and growth initiatives
• Bring forward recommendations with a clear plan, expected costs, and anticipated outcomes
• Help create accountability across the organization and ensure initiatives are implemented
• Monitor company performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability
• Collaborate with ownership on sales and business development while maintaining primary ownership of operations
• Help develop and execute the long-term vision and strategy of the company

Ideal Candidate

• Experience as a Director of Operations, Operations Manager, General Manager, Regional Manager, or similar leadership role
• Proven ability to lead and improve business operations
• Experience helping a company grow while maintaining profitability
• Strong understanding of budgeting, financial performance, and operational efficiency
• Ability to make decisions independently and take ownership of outcomes
• Strong leadership and team-building skills
• Strategic thinker who can identify what needs to be done and actually implement it
• Strong communication skills and ability to work closely with ownership
• Commercial construction, specialty contracting, or painting experience is helpful but not required
• Someone who operates with an ownership mentality and wants to play a major role in the continued growth of the company

Compensation

• $125K+ base salary with performance incentives
• Target compensation around $135K-$140K+ based on performance
• Flexibility for a highly proven candidate based on experience and ability to drive results

Why This Opportunity

This is not a Senior Project Manager position. The company is looking for an experienced operator and right-hand leader who can take ownership of the day‑to‑day business, identify what needs to happen, develop the plan, and execute it without needing the owner to direct every decision.

The ideal person will have a meaningful impact on the company’s future, helping increase annual revenue, maintain profitability, develop the team, and build the systems and structure needed for continued growth.