Director of Operations

Chatsworth Products; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Chatsworth Products, a leader in cooling, power, and enclosure solutions, seeks a Director of Operations in Simi Valley, CA. The role oversees manufacturing, materials, and plant logistics to deliver safe, reliable, and profitable plant performance.

Responsibilities include Lean transformation, budget ownership, and cross-functional collaboration to meet safety, quality, and delivery targets. Up to 25% travel is expected to support business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including at least five years leading a significant operation.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing systems and tools.
• Broad knowledge of manufacturing operations, planning, materials, and plant logistics.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations including manufacturing, materials, maintenance, warehousing, and site logistics.
• Develop and execute the annual operating plan for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Foster a Lean Manufacturing culture with standard work and daily management.
• Ensure compliance with EH&S and other regulatory requirements; reduce workplace risk.
• Coach leaders and teams; manage staffing, performance, and succession.
• Optimize production flow, labor, equipment, and material availability.
• Own the plant budget and operating results; drive cost reduction.
• Lead major projects like facility expansions and capacity improvements.
• Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, Sales, and other CPI sites.

Skills

Values & accountability

Safety leadership

Results orientation

People leadership

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic/business acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/operations/business

Tools

ERP

MS Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint/Outlook)

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Simi Valley Plant - SImi Valley, CA, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $180000.00 - $220000.00Salary/year, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%,

The Director of Operations is accountable for the safe, reliable, and profitable performance of the assigned CPI manufacturing facility. This leader directs manufacturing, materials, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, receiving, warehousing, and plant logistics to achieve customer service, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory objectives. The Director builds a high-performing, accountable team and applies Lean Manufacturing principles to improve flow, eliminate waste, increase capacity, and establish sustainable standard work. The role also partners across CPI to align plant execution with company strategy and share best practices across the domestic manufacturing network.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead all plant operations, including manufacturing, materials, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, receiving, warehousing, inventory control, and site logistics.
• Develop and execute the annual operating plan to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, capacity, and inventory targets.
• Build a strong Lean Manufacturing culture using daily management, standard work, visual controls, root-cause problem solving, value-stream improvement, and continuous improvement events.
• Ensure compliance with applicable environmental, health, safety, employment, and operational requirements; proactively identify and reduce workplace risk.
• Develop, coach, and hold leaders and teams accountable; manage staffing, performance, succession, employee engagement, and corrective action in partnership with Human Resources.
• Optimize production flow, labor, equipment, space, maintenance, and material availability to meet customer commitments and support growth.
• Own the plant budget and operating results, including labor, overhead, capital spending, material usage, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Lead major operational projects such as facility expansions, layout changes, equipment installations, product transfers, and capacity improvements.
• Partner with Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Product Management, Sales, and other CPI sites to resolve issues, launch products, and standardize best practices.
• Manage plant-level supplier and contract-manufacturing performance to improve quality, delivery, lead time, cost, and continuity of supply.

Qualifications:

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Values and accountability - Demonstrates integrity, ownership, sound judgment, and consistent alignment with CPI's values.
• Safety and quality leadership - Sets clear expectations and creates a culture in which risks and defects are surfaced and resolved quickly.
• Results orientation - Converts strategy into priorities, metrics, action plans, and sustained operating performance.
• People leadership - Builds effective teams, develops talent, communicates clearly, and addresses performance directly and fairly.
• Continuous improvement - Challenges the status quo, uses structured problem solving, and engages employees in eliminating waste.
• Cross-functional collaboration - Influences effectively across functions and sites while maintaining a strong customer focus.
• Strategic and business acumen - Anticipates capacity and operational needs and balances service, cost, cash, risk, and long-term capability.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Ten or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including at least five years leading a significant manufacturing operation or major operating segment.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing systems and tools, such as daily management, standard work, 5S, value-stream mapping, Kaizen, root-cause analysis, and flow or pull concepts.
• Broad working knowledge of manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, planning, materials, inventory control, maintenance, quality, EHS, and plant logistics.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, capital projects, capacity plans, operational KPIs, and cross-functional improvement initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong mechanical and technical aptitude; proficiency with ERP and business productivity tools, including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work regularly in an office and manufacturing environment.
• Travel as required to support business needs.
• Use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods.
• Occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.