Director, Operations

Employee Owned Brands, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

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

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost, profitability, and employee engagement.
• Develop operating plans, budgets, capacity plans, and capital priorities that support growth and excellence.
• Provide leadership across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, and continuous improvement while partnering with quality and safety.
• Use data, metrics, and financial insight to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve performance.
• Ensure projects, products, service work, and customer commitments are delivered on time and within margin.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Data-driven

People development

Cross-functional collaboration

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.

EEO IS THE LAW EEO IS THE LAW (Spanish) Leer Inc is the world’s leading manufacturer of retail ice merchandising equipment, walk‑in coolers and freezers, and other temperature controlled storage solutions. We have 3 manufacturing plants – 2 in New Lisbon WI, and 1 in Carroll IA. We are an employee owned business, part of the Employee Owned Brands, Inc. group, and we share our wealth and success through an ESOP – Employee Stock Ownership Plan. We are one of America’s oldest and most successful employee owned groups, that has been committed to manufacturing excellence in America’s heartland for over 125 years.