Operations Director

ITW; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

ITW Mechanical Fastening, a division of ITW Construction Products, seeks an Operations Director to lead and execute the long-term operations strategy across multiple sites in the Chicago area. The role focuses on safe, efficient production, supplier accountability, and cost optimization to deliver high-quality products for residential and renovation markets.

The successful candidate will drive growth, productivity, and profitability through cross-functional leadership and continuous improvement,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field required.
• 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, warehousing, and safety functions.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that drive growth and margin improvement.
• Strong financial and business acumen including budgets and capital investments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies ensuring safe, efficient operations and quality.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead cross-functional quality initiatives and supplier accountability.
• Oversee capital planning and CAPEX projects.
• Partner with sourcing and supply chain to optimize performance.
• Drive productivity gains and cost reductions via ITW Toolbox and CI.
• Manage supply chain performance, inventory, and transport costs.
• Improve conversion costs by reducing waste and rework.
• Ensure on-time, on-cost delivery of new products with engineering and marketing.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and company standards.
• Foster a high-performance culture through leadership development and engagement.
• Champion safety culture with proactive risk management.

Skills

Operations leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Supply chain optimization

Manufacturing excellence

Change management

Strategic planning

Budget management

Safety compliance

Executive communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Supply Chain

MBA preferred

Job description

Job Description

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR – MECHANICAL FASTENING

ITW Mechanical Fastening, a division of ITW Construction Products, is a global provider of premium fastening solutions that improve contractor productivity and building quality in the residential and renovation construction industries. Our portfolio includes category-leading brands such as GRK Fasteners™, Tapcon®, Red Head®, Ramset®, Rock-On®, Backer-On®, Teks®, and E-Z Ancor®. These trusted solutions help contractors work more efficiently while delivering superior performance on the jobsite.

About ITW

Founded in 1912, Illinois Tool Works Inc. is a Fortune 300 global multi-industry manufacturing leader with revenue of $16 billion in 2025. The company's seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW's approximately 43,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company's decentralized and entrepreneurial culture.

Why This Role Matters

As a key divisional leader, the Operations Director is responsible for developing and executing the long-term operations strategy that enables profitable growth across a significant business within the Construction segment. This role drives operational excellence by ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality products, in the right quantities to meet customer demand, while optimizing cost, productivity, and profitability in alignment with ITW's enterprise objectives.

The Operations Director provides strategic leadership and oversight across manufacturing, supply chain, sourcing, manufacturing engineering, safety, and quality functions spanning five locations (with the greater Chicago area). By leveraging ITW's business model and continuous improvement principles, the role ensures operational capabilities support growth, enhance customer satisfaction, and deliver sustainable business performance.

What You Will Do

• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies that ensure safe, efficient operations and consistent delivery of high-quality products.
• Establish and monitor key performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and exceed operational targets.
• Lead cross-functional quality initiatives, strengthen supplier accountability, and improve supplier and end-of-line quality performance.
• Oversee capital planning and execute operational CAPEX projects that enhance productivity, capacity, and growth.
• Partner with segment sourcing and supply chain teams to optimize supply chain and distribution performance.
• Drive productivity improvements and cost reductions through the application of the ITW Toolbox and continuous improvement principles.
• Manage supply chain performance through strategic sourcing, supplier partnerships, inventory optimization, and transportation cost control.
• Improve conversion costs by reducing waste, scrap, rework, and other operational inefficiencies.
• Enhance delivery performance and inventory optimization through strong MRD practices across manufactured and purchased products.
• Drive collaboration with engineering, marketing, and sourcing teams to ensure successful new product introductions on time and on cost.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and company standards.
• Foster a high-performance culture through effective communication, employee engagement, coaching, and leadership development.
• Build organizational capability by developing Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain leaders and driving succession planning.
• Champion a world-class safety culture through proactive risk identification, mitigation, and employee accountability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in complex manufacturing environments, including multi-site responsibility.
• Proven success leading manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, warehousing, and safety functions while delivering strong business and financial results.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute operational strategies that drive growth, productivity, customer service, and margin improvement.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience managing budgets, capital investments, cost reduction, and operational performance metrics.
• Proven track record of building high-performing teams, developing leaders, and driving organizational capability through coaching and succession planning.
• Experience leading supply chain optimization, supplier quality improvement, and large-scale operational or business transformation initiatives.
• Strong change management, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to influence and drive results across organizational boundaries.
• Deep commitment to safety, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement, with experience relevant operating disciplines.
• Excellent communication and executive presence, with the ability to effectively engage employees, customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Willingness to travel regularly to operating locations, with occasional international travel as needed.

What's In It For You

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity to shape the operational strategy and long-term success of a significant business within ITW's Construction segment. As a key member of the Division Leadership Team, you will have the autonomy to drive operational excellence across multiple sites while influencing business performance, customer satisfaction, and profitable growth. You will lead a diverse organization spanning manufacturing, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, quality, and safety, while leveraging the ITW Business Model to deliver meaningful results.Beyond driving business outcomes, you will have the opportunity to build high-performing teams, develop the next generation of operations leaders, and lead transformational initiatives that create lasting impact across the organization. Most importantly, you will be part of ITW's unique entrepreneurial culture, where leaders are empowered to make decisions, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. Guided by ITW's core values of Integrity, Respect, Trust, Shared Risk, and Simplicity, you will help foster an environment where people thrive, customers succeed, and businesses grow sustainably. Learn more at ITW Careers.

Work Environment

This position is based in our Glenview corporate office; however, the employee may be required to work in a variety of locations, including but not limited to construction/job sites, supplier locations, test laboratories, and manufacturing facilities. These environments may not be controlled by the Company and may require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). While performing the duties of this position, the employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, climate variations, and moving mechanical equipment typically found in construction and manufacturing environments. The noise level in the corporate office is generally low; however, noise levels may be significantly higher when visiting job sites, test laboratories, or manufacturing facilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role.

All applicant information will be kept confidential in accordance with EEO guidelines.

Compensation Information

The salary range for this position is$190,000-$ 230,000 annually. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. The company considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations. The position is also eligible to participate in ITW’s incentive programs.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.