Director, Operations

Leer Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Leer, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations to lead day-to-day performance across merchandisers and walk-ins in an employee-owned manufacturing environment.

This role requires building accountable teams, improving systems, and delivering measurable results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, profitability, and customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will bridge plant-floor and executive-level thinking, translate strategy into execution, and drive data-driven improvements with strong

Qualifications

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive operations leadership experience in manufacturing.
• Experience leading multiple functions and managing budgets.
• Strong track record in safety, delivery, cost, quality, and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations with emphasis on safety, quality, delivery, cost, profitability, and employee engagement.
• Develop operating plans, budgets, capacity plans, and capital priorities.
• Provide cross-functional leadership across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, and continuous improvement.
• Use data and financial insight to identify opportunities and improve performance.
• Ensure projects, products, and customer commitments meet timelines and margins.
• Partner with sales, product development, and other locations to support new products and opportunities.
• Strengthen supplier performance, inventory discipline, lead times, and cost-reduction efforts.
• Create scalable processes and operating practices that enable continuous improvement.

Skills

Operations leadership

Budget management

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven decision making

Safety compliance

People development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in operations management, engineering, business, supply chain, or related field

Job description

Lead operations. Build teams. Drive performance in an employee-owned manufacturing business.

About the Opportunity

Leer, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations to lead the day-to-day performance of our operations across merchandisers and walk-ins. This is a high-impact leadership role for an operations leader who knows how to translate strategy into execution, build accountable teams, improve systems, and deliver measurable results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Reporting to the President, this leader will have broad influence across manufacturing, supply chain, purchasing, continuous improvement, quality, safety, product development, sales, suppliers, and customers.

What You’ll Lead

• 1. Lead daily operations with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost, profitability, and employee engagement.
• 2. Develop operating plans, budgets, capacity plans, and capital priorities that support business growth and operational excellence.
• 3. Provide leadership across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, and continuous improvement while partnering closely with quality and safety.
• 4. Use data, metrics, and financial insight to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve performance.
• 5. Ensure projects, products, service work, and customer commitments are delivered on time, on budget, and in line with margin expectations.
• 6. Partner with sales, product development, and other company locations to support new products, customer needs, and business opportunities.
• 7. Strengthen supplier performance, material availability, inventory discipline, lead times, and cost-reduction efforts.
• 8. Create scalable processes, controls, and operating practices that support continuous improvement and long‑term success.
• 9. Build, coach, and develop leaders and teams who take ownership, collaborate well, and deliver results.
• 10. Champion a culture where safety, accountability, customer focus, and operational discipline are part of how work gets done every day.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on, strategic operations leader who can move confidently between the plant floor and the executive table. You bring strong business acumen, manufacturing discipline, people leadership, and a track record of improving performance through teams, systems, and data.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, engineering, business, supply chain, or a related field preferred, along with seven to ten years of progressive operations leadership experience in manufacturing. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will also be considered.
• Experience leading multiple functions, managing budgets, developing leaders, and improving safety, delivery, cost, quality, and profitability is strongly preferred.

Why Leer?

At Leer, you will have the opportunity to make a visible impact in a business that values operational excellence, practical problem solving, strong teams, and long‑term thinking. As part of an employee‑owned organization, we believe great leaders create value by helping people succeed, serving customers well, and building a stronger business for the future.