Director of Operations

Mission Ready Recruiting; Texas; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Ready Recruiting seeks a Director of Operations to oversee plant operations across Production, Quality Control, Safety, Engineering, Procurement, Logistics, and Inventory in a steel fabrication environment.

The role demands 10+ years in manufacturing ops and 5+ years of multi-department leadership, with deep knowledge of production planning, quality control, OSHA, and lean methods. Strong ERP and CAD proficiency are required; bachelor's in engineering or related field preferred.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience, preferably in steel fabrication.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing multiple departments and teams.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, quality control, OSHA regulations, and lean manufacturing.
• Familiarity with UL, STI, API, and AWS standards.
• Experience with supplier negotiations, logistics, and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee department managers, establish performance goals, and improve communication across operations.
• Manage production schedules, staffing, and equipment needs to meet targets.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards and corrective-action processes.
• Promote a strong safety culture and OSHA compliance; oversee safety training and inspections.
• Oversee engineering changes, specifications, and collaboration between engineering and production.
• Negotiate with suppliers, manage inventory, and control costs.
• Coordinate inbound/outbound freight, DOT compliance, and carrier performance.
• Maintain inventory accuracy and ensure tooling and materials availability.
• Report key performance metrics to executive leadership and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Implement lean manufacturing practices to improve productivity and reduce waste.

Skills

Operations leadership

Production planning

Quality control

Safety compliance

Lean manufacturing

ERP systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Engineering coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing/Operations

Tools

Fishbowl ERP

CAD software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Director of Operations to oversee plant operations, including Production, Quality Control, Safety, Engineering, Procurement, Logistics, and Inventory. This leader will ensure efficient operations from customer order through final delivery while maintaining high standards for safety, quality, cost, and on-time performance. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong manufacturing experience who can develop teams, improve processes, and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced steel fabrication environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations Leadership: Oversee department managers, establish performance goals, improve communication, and ensure efficient coordination across all operations.
• Production: Manage production schedules, staffing, capacity, and equipment needs to meet quality, cost, and delivery targets.
• Quality Control: Ensure compliance with UL, STI, API, and customer specifications while maintaining inspection standards and corrective-action processes.
• Safety: Promote a strong safety culture, ensure OSHA compliance, and oversee safety training, inspections, and incident prevention.
• Engineering: Oversee engineering drawings, design changes, technical specifications, and collaboration between engineering and production.
• Procurement: Manage supplier relationships, material purchasing, negotiations, and inventory availability while controlling costs.
• Logistics: Coordinate inbound and outbound freight, including oversize/overweight shipments, DOT compliance, and carrier performance.
• Inventory: Maintain inventory accuracy through Fishbowl or similar ERP systems and ensure production has necessary tools and materials.
• Financial Performance: Manage operational budgets, identify cost‑saving opportunities, and report key performance metrics to executive leadership.
• Continuous Improvement: Implement lean manufacturing practices to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience, preferably in steel fabrication manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing multiple departments and teams.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, quality control, OSHA regulations, and lean manufacturing.
• Familiarity with UL, STI, API, and AWS standards.
• Experience with supplier negotiations, logistics, and inventory management.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (Fishbowl preferred), Microsoft Excel, and familiarity with CAD software.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• Relevant certifications (Lean Six Sigma, OSHA 30, AWS CWI, or APICS) are a plus.

Combination of office and manufacturing floor responsibilities. Requires regular interaction with production teams and adherence to plant safety requirements.