Operations Director

Sports Imports, Inc.; Worthington, Northern (OH, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP ownership

Competitive compensation & benefits

Job summary

Sports Imports, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations to lead the organization’s operations function, spanning warehouse, supply chain, and global process architecture.

This role drives scalable systems, cross-functional alignment, and disciplined execution across multiple departments. The ideal candidate will translate strategic vision into actionable processes, oversee budgets and headcount, and partner with product development to ensure timely delivery of new initiatives.

Qualifications

• 7-12+ years of operational leadership experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, or product-based businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to build systems and processes from scratch.
• Strong cross-functional leadership experience and financial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional workflows from order acquisition through fulfillment.
• Oversee warehouse and supply chain operations; own process architecture and product development execution.
• Manage budgeting, headcount, and capital expenditure for warehousing, logistics, and product development.
• Set vendor strategies; own major contracts, pricing structures, and supplier changes.
• Drive cost-control measures to protect margin and optimize cash flow.
• Design, document, and implement SOPs across all departments; improve CRM/ERP usage.
• Coordinate sourcing, cost modeling, and production readiness for new products.
• Direct mid-level management of the Operations team and drive talent development.
• Ensure OSHA safety standards and capacity planning for growth.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Operational leadership

Financial acumen

Warehouse / Supply chain operations

System design & process improvement

Vendor management

NA - product & manufacturing exposure

People leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Operations Management / Supply Chain

MBA preferred

Tools

CRM

ERP

Job description

ABOUT US

Sports Imports, an industry leader in volleyball equipment design, engineering, and manufacturing since 1976, became a 100% employee-owned business in 2023. Focused on providing a customer-centric experience and product excellence for all levels of play, the company has partnered exclusively with Senoh since its inception. Sports Imports revolutionized the sport with innovative products, including the first all-carbon volleyball pole, known for its strength, safety, and Lifetime Performance Warranty. As a trusted supplier, they are the official net system provider for NCAA, NJCAA, USAV, NFHS, and AVCA, and have earned the confidence of over 92% of Division I programs and provided more than 50,000 net systems to high schools across the U.S.

SPORTS IMPORTS CULTURE

At Sports Imports, we value innovation, creativity, and problem-solving, driven by our core values: Customer Commitment, Excellence, Teamwork, Integrity, Heart, and Grit. We offer a fast-paced environment with opportunities to engage in the sports community through trade shows, events, and partnerships. Our team is encouraged to take initiative, think creatively, and pursue growth, fostering collaboration and the sharing of new ideas.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Operations is responsible for building and leading a true operations function across the organization. This leader will oversee warehouse and supply chain operations while also owning global process architecture, cross-departmental workflows, and product development execution.

This is a company-wide leadership role focused on creating scalable systems, operational discipline, and cross-functional alignment. The Director of Operations will translate strategic vision into executable processes and ensure operational excellence across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Operations.

This role reports directly to the Integrator and holds explicit authority over the operations budget, headcount, and capital expenditure planning for warehouse, logistics functions, and product development. The Director of Operations is the single point of accountability for operational outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Operational Leadership & Integration

• Build and maintain cross-functional workflows from order acquisition through fulfillment
• Establish and enforce company-wide process clarity and accountability
• Lead weekly operational cadence, KPI tracking, and performance dashboards
• Drive alignment between strategic objectives and day-to-day execution

Supply Chain & Warehouse Oversight

• Oversee warehouse operations, fulfillment accuracy, and inventory integrity
• Lead purchasing and domestic/overseas sourcing strategy
• Improve inventory planning and production scheduling processes
• Implement cost-control measures to protect margin and cash flow
• Develop scalable systems as volume and product lines expand

Vendor & Supplier Relationship Management

• Set vendor strategy and own final decisions on major contracts, pricing structures, and supplier changes, including domestic/overseas manufacturing partners
• Ownership over vendor KPIs
• Oversee vendor escalated issues
• Own the decision to diversify or qualify new vendors to reduce single-source risk as volume grows

Assembly, Shipping & Logistics

• Ensure build and assembly targets are met through process and inventory efficiencies
• Set freight and carrier strategy and approve carrier changes or major contracts; the Warehouse Operations Manager owns day-to-day routing and carrier communication
• Own shipping cost optimization initiatives and sign off on packaging or freight changes with material cost impact

Product Quality & Warranty Management

• Set product quality standards and specifications in partnership with product development and assembly team
• Establish incoming (supplier) and outgoing (pre-shipment) inspection protocols, and step in when inspection results do not meet expectations
• Own warranty claim root-cause analysis and feed findings back into vendor scorecards and design decisions, drawing on claim data
• Own corrective and preventative action decisions for recurring quality issues and clear cross-functional obstacles

Global Process & Systems Ownership

• Design, document, and implement SOPs across all departments
• Improve CRM, ERP, and internal systems utilization
• Optimize handoffs between Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance
• Build operational dashboards and reporting structures
• Identify bottlenecks and proactively solve process inefficiencies
• Champion operational discipline and continuous improvement

Product Development Execution

• Oversee operational execution of new product initiatives
• Coordinate sourcing, cost modeling, vendor relationships, and production readiness
• Implement stage-gate product launch processes
• Ensure alignment between product design, supply chain, and commercialization
• Support growth targets tied to new product revenue

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Directly manage the mid-level management of the Operations team.
• Hold final hiring authority for operations roles; partner with mid-level managers on frontline recruiting and onboarding
• Own performance management for direct reports, including goal-setting, coaching, and succession planning
• Build a scalable team structure that reduces reliance on any single individual and meets the needs of the growing business

Safety, Compliance & Capacity Planning

• Set safety program standards and OSHA compliance requirements; the Warehouse Operations Manager owns day-to-day safety training and incident reporting
• Lead manufacturing capacity planning and facility investment recommendations as volume and product lines expand

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• 7-12+ years of operational leadership experience
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. MBA preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, or product-based businesses
• Demonstrated ability to build systems and processes from scratch
• Strong cross-functional leadership experience
• Proven track record of improving operational efficiency and scalability
• Financial acumen (inventory, margin, cash flow awareness)
• Experience leading warehouse or supply chain operations preferred
• Demonstrated people-leadership experience, including hiring, developing, and managing a team of direct reports
• Experience with product quality systems, vendor scorecards, or warranty/CAPA processes preferred
• Familiarity with warehouse safety and regulatory compliance (e.g., OSHA) preferred

WHY JOIN SPORTS IMPORTS?

At Sports Imports, you're more than an employee—you're an owner. As a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP), every team member shares in our success and has the opportunity to build long-term financial value while making a meaningful impact every day. We complement that ownership mindset with competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and a culture that invests in the growth and success of its people. Join a team where your contributions matter, your voice is heard, and your work helps power the industry's premium volleyball equipment brand.