Director of Operations (51222)

Mas Hvac, Inc.; Dayton (MN); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical vision and dental plans

Short-term and long-term disability

Group term life insurance

HSA and FSA options

401k matching

Education assistance program

Paid holidays and generous PTO

Company events

Job summary

Gradian, a Maple Grove, MN-based engineering-led thermal solutions company, seeks an Operations Director to launch a greenfield manufacturing site in Dayton, MN and to transform the existing operation for rapid growth. The role focuses on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash, driving a zero-harm culture and Lean excellence across both new and legacy sites.

You will lead startup, transformation, and scalable growth, while building a high-performing team and partnering with cross-functional

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing or operations.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role delivering large-scale launches.
• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Deep knowledge of SQDCC performance management systems.
• Strong problem-solving with a data-driven mindset.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end startup of a new manufacturing facility with on-time commissioning.
• Transform a legacy operation into a scalable, process-driven site.
• Establish SOPs, workflows, and daily management routines.
• Drive Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Cash (SQDCC) targets.
• Recruit, develop, and coach a high-performing operations team.
• Plan aggressive capacity ramps and coordinate cross-functional expansion.

Skills

Leadership experience

Greenfield site startup

Lean manufacturing

SQDCC

Change management

Data-driven mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

MBA preferred

Job description

# Director of Operations (51222)Dayton Office - Dayton, MN 55369## OverviewSalary Range$175,000.00 - $225,000.00 Salary/yearLevelManagementEducation Level4 Year Degree## DescriptionGradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.**Why work here**At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design.It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.**Position Summary:**We are seeking a highly driven and experienced **Operations Director** to lead the **successful launch of a greenfield manufacturing site** while simultaneously driving the **transformation and scaling of the existing operation**. This role is critical to delivering a **safe, on-time startup**, building a high-performing team, and executing a **rapid growth and capacity expansion strategy**.The ideal candidate combines **startup expertise, operational excellence, and transformation leadership**, with a strong focus on **SQDCC (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Cash)** performance. This leader will play a pivotal role in building systems, culture, and processes to support sustainable growth and continuous improvement across both new and legacy operations.---**Key Responsibilities:****Greenfield Site Startup*** Lead the **end-to-end startup** of a new manufacturing facility, ensuring **on-time commissioning and ramp-up**.* Develop and execute detailed **startup plans**, including equipment installation, validation, and operational readiness.* Implement and establish **standard operating procedures (SOPs)**, workflows, and performance management systems from the ground up.* Ensure full compliance with **safety, regulatory, and quality standards** prior to and during launch.**Transformation of Existing Operations*** Assess and transform a **previously privately held operation** into a scalable, process-driven manufacturing environment.* Standardize processes, improve operational discipline, and drive alignment with corporate performance expectations.* Identify and implement improvements in **efficiency, quality, cost management, and delivery performance**.**SQDCC Performance Leadership*** Own and deliver performance across **Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Cash** metrics.* Establish visual management systems, KPIs, and daily management routines.* Drive a **zero-harm safety culture** and embed quality at the source principles.* Ensure on-time delivery through effective planning, scheduling, and execution.**Team Building & Organizational Development*** Recruit, develop, and lead a **high-performing operations team**, including supervisors, engineers, and frontline employees.* Build organizational capability through **training, coaching, and leadership development**.* Foster a **culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement**.**Capacity Ramps & Growth Execution*** Plan and execute **aggressive capacity ramp-ups** to meet business growth targets.* Optimize resource allocation, production planning, and workforce scaling.* Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality) to enable seamless growth.**Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence*** Champion **Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives** (e.g., Kaizen, Six Sigma, 5S).* Drive waste reduction, productivity gains, and process optimization.* Implement best practices and ensure sustainability of improvements.**Qualifications & Requirements:****Required:*** 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in **manufacturing or operations**, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership role.* Proven track record of **greenfield site startup or major operational launches**.* Experience transforming or integrating **legacy or privately held operations into structured environments**.* Demonstrated success in **fast-paced, high-growth environments**.* Strong expertise in **Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence**.* Deep knowledge of **SQDCC performance management systems**.* Exceptional leadership, team-building, and change management capabilities.* Strong problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset.* Ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities.* Bachelor’s degree in **Engineering, Operations Management, or related field** (MBA preferred).**Key Success Metrics*** On-time and successful launch of greenfield facility.* Achievement and sustainability of SQDCC targets.* Effective ramp-up of production capacity to meet growth plans.* Measurable improvements in operational efficiency and cost performance.* Development of a high-performing, engaged operations team.Benefits:* Medical, vision, and dental plans* Short-term and long-term disability insurance* Group term life insurance coverage* HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available* 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy* 401k matching* Company paid events* Annual safety shoe allowance* Education assistance program