DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NeedlePaint; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

NeedlePaint is seeking a Director of Operations in Denver to lead day-to-day production, fulfillment, and inventory. You will build scalable systems, optimize workflows, and drive reliability as we scale our needlepoint kits and crafted products.

You will manage production managers and technicians, align cross-functionally with sales and customer service, and push for continuous improvement in quality, speed, and cost metrics.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in hands-on operations (DTC, consumer goods, light manufacturing or fulfillment).
• Experience managing people (hiring, coaching, accountability, and performance feedback).
• Strong grasp of production planning, scheduling, and capacity management.
• Experience with inventory forecasting and vendor management.
• Clear communicator who can stay organized under pressure.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with sales/marketing/customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end operations across printing, manufacturing, finishing, and fulfillment.
• Improve production workflows, capacity planning, and lead-time management.
• Work closely with printing and production teams to ensure quality and consistency.
• Oversee Denver production and coordinate with our partners overseas.
• Lead and mentor the operations team to deliver results.
• Define and track KPIs (lead time, throughput, on-time ship, inventory accuracy, waste/rework).

Skills

5+ years operations

People management

Production planning

Inventory forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Clear communication

Tools

Shopify

Order/inventory tools

Job description

Director of Operations

Location: Denver, CO (On-site Full Time)

Reports to: Founders / Managing Partners

About NeedlePaint

NeedlePaint is a needlepoint company redefining a traditional craft with innovation and technology. We sell premium on-demand direct-to-consumer needlepoint kits and finished hand-stitched products through multiple eCommerce channels as well as a wholesale business serving designers and specialty shops across the country. We're a small collaborative team setting a new standard for the industry with modern technology and optimized operations.

The Role

We're hiring a Director of Operations to lead NeedlePaint's day-to-day operations across production, fulfillment, and inventory, while managing and developing the team that makes it all happen. You'll have real authority to improve systems, set priorities, and raise the bar on quality, speed, and reliability as we scale.

What You'll Do

Oversee Production

• Own end-to-end operations across printing, manufacturing, finishing, and fulfillment
• Improve production workflows, capacity planning, and lead-time management
• Work closely with printing and production teams to ensure quality and consistency
• Oversee both our Denver production and coordinate with our partners overseas

Lead the Team

• Lead and support production managers, technicians, and operations team members
• Build clear accountability and performance expectations
• Hire, develop, and mentor the team as we grow
• Be the calm, steady presence when things get busy (and they do)

Manage Inventory & Supply Chain

• Manage inventory planning for canvases, threads, finishing materials, and packaging
• Improve forecasting to support DTC, wholesale, and seasonal demand
• Own vendor relationships, purchasing, and cost controls
• Reduce stockouts, waste, and rush production scenarios

Build Better Systems

• Translate founder-level vision into executable processes
• Find bottlenecks and fix them (or build around them)
• Drive continuous improvement in quality and efficiency
• Balance quality, speed, and cost as the business scales
• Define and track core operational KPIs (lead time, throughput, on-time ship, inventory accuracy, waste/rework)

Collaborate

• Act as a key partner to founders on planning, capacity decisions, and growth initiatives
• Work with sales, marketing, and customer service to align operations with demand
• Be the voice of operations in how we build our tools to improve operational systems (order management, scheduling, reporting)

Who You Are

Must-Haves

• 5+ years in operations in a hands-on environment (DTC, consumer goods, light manufacturing, or fulfillment)
• Experience managing people (hiring, coaching, accountability, and performance feedback)
• Strong grasp of production planning, scheduling, and capacity management
• Experience with inventory forecasting and vendor management
• Clear communicator who can stay organized under pressure
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with sales/marketing/customer experience
• You're a hands-on, high-standards leader, willing to jump in when needed, and focused on building systems that prevent chaos

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with custom products, print-on-demand, or made-to-order workflows
• Experience with Shopify and/or order/inventory tools
• Genuine interest in craft/textiles/needlepoint (or excitement to learn)

Why This Might Be the Job for You

• Real authority: You'll make decisions that matter and directly shape the company
• Visible impact: When you fix something, you'll immediately see it in lead times, margins, and team morale
• Leadership: You'll help build the culture and capabilities of the production team
• Engaged founders: We are engaged, product-focused founders who want to provide what you need to take operations ownership
• Interesting product: You'll be working to produce handcrafted products people love, with industry-changing technology, personalization, and on‑demand fulfillment
• Room to grow: This role has real opportunity to expand as the company grows

Who We Are

Founded in 2009, NeedlePaint has grown significantly in the past few years. That growth has meant new systems, new tools, and new processes, and we want someone to help us bring them even further.

We created StitchPerfect printing, our patent-pending canvas printing technology, and also offer traditional hand‑painted canvases using a trusted artisan network. We are not just distributors with a website and a warehouse. We are a full‑scale printing and production facility in Denver, CO supported by global partners and an innovative technology team.

Founders are engaged and collaborative. We want an operator who can own the function, and we'll back you with resources and fast decisions.