NEW JOB: Senior Director of Operations – Custom Brands

Shreveport, LA

(Exclusive to CSI – Retained)

A Middle-Market Specialty Lubrication Manufacturing Organization of stellar reputation seeks a progressive and dynamic LEADER, a Senior Director of Operations, for its Custom Brands Division. Key to success is one’s ability to lead and develop a multi-site, multi-process Manufacturing (blending and packaging) and Distribution/Warehousing team into a highly efficient and productive operational culture with Customer Service excellence.

WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION– TOP COMPENSATION –STRONG BENEFITS – RELOCATION – FUN

ROLE OVERVIEW: The Senior Director of Operations will participate on Division’s leadership team in strategic long-term planning, visioning, and position of the Division and will execute the global operational strategies for the Customer Brands Division. This position will ensure capacity, capabilities, and costs are aligned to support growth strategies and will optimize our manufacturing (blending, packaging) and distribution execution across multiple facilities. Responsibilities include maximizing the use of capital assets, reinforcing safety and quality behaviors, and managing the overall operational cost structure both regionally and globally.

Key Business Objectives for this Position:  

STRATEGY: Participate on the division’s leadership team in strategic long-term planning, visioning and positioning of the Division. Execute the global operational strategies for the Customer Brands. Ensure capacity, capabilities, and costs are aligned to support growth strategies. Optimize our manufacturing (blending, packaging) and distribution execution across multiple facilities.

LEADERSHIP: Strong team/employee development. Create highly efficient and productive operational culture with Customer Service excellence. Provide collaborative, trustworthy business and operational leadership. Create and communicate a compelling vision. Partner with Management. Develop high performance environment. Provide Operations leadership to Manufacturing (blending, packaging) and Distribution to ensure these areas are competitive, differentiated, and keeping pace with emerging opportunities.

  • MANUFACTURING: Drive the implementation and success of Lean Manufacturing principles. Drive “best practices” in shop-floor management, production processes (mechanical, fluid, and process technologies; blending, packaging – bottles/pouches), and employee driven continuous improvement.
  • DISTRIBUTION/WAREHOUSING: Optimize and differentiate multi-site distribution strategies (trucking) and warehouse capabilities.

CAP & OP EX / FINANCIALS: Participate in operational expense planning, budgeting and cost management. Identify and prioritize capital and operating expenditures regionally and globally. Deploy plans to maximize the effectiveness and profitability of capital investments. Continually analyze financial performance.

OPERATIONS: Build operational roadmap to ensure capacity, capabilities, and costs are aligned to support growth strategies and service levels. Optimize manufacturing (blending, packaging) and distribution execution across multiple facilities. Set operational expectations, roles and responsibilities, toolsets for problem solving and continuous improvement.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT: Supervise all Operations for Custom Brands (multi-site): Manufacturing (blending, packaging) and Distribution / Warehousing. Utilize metric-driven control/reporting to ensure operational targets are met and continuous improvement occurs. Manage the overall operational cost structure both regionally and globally. Maximize the use of capital assets. Instill and reinforce safety and quality best practices.

SAFETY / COMPLIANCE / QUALITY: Create and maintain “safety first” culture. Ensure operational compliance with all areas of safety, environmental, and regulatory influence. Deploy quality initiatives and support these with reinforcing behaviors and policies.

COMMUNICATIONS: Consistently and clearly communicate a compelling vision throughout the organization. Motivate “buy in” by internal and external stakeholders.

TEAM BUILDING / MENTORING /SUCCESSION PLANNING: Build and lead a complete and strong management team.

PRODUCT & PROCESS DEVELOPMENT / COMMERCIALIZATION: Participate in new product/process development and product commercialization reviews to ensure operational targets are designed-in and met.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Four year degree in an operational, supply chain, business, or engineering discipline.
  • Ability to travel between 30% and 50% of the time
  • Strong leader with demonstrated team/employee development experience.
  • Experience leading a multi-site operation that includes blending, packaging, and distribution (i.e. chemical, food, lubricants).
  • Demonstrated ability to build and lead a complete and strong management team.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a high level of integrity.
  • Strong oral, written and presentation communication skills
  • 5+ Years in Manufacturing Operations Leadership Role (Director of Operations or higher)
  • Large multi-process, multi-site manufacturing plant operations.
  • KEY: Blending, Packaging (Bottles, Pouches).
  • Ability to manage high volume of work.
  • Disciplined in planning, execution, measurement, and follow-up.
  • Creating / building processes and procedures.
  • Solid project management techniques, skills, processes, measurement techniques, and documentation.
  • Staff Planning. Deploying, managing, and developing employees across functional positions in multiple locations.
  • Financial analysis, budgeting, and cost management.
  • P&L. Operational Expense Planning (Ex: Staffing. Cost/Gallon to produce, % of gross margin/dollar, product pounds/labor hour).
  • Demonstrated involvement in successful quality and safety initiatives.
  • Production Processes: Knowledge of mechanical, fluid, and process technologies, including:
  • fluid handling equipment,
  • packaging equipment, and
  • process controls (PLC).
  • Functional experience, including:
  • Managing distribution activities across multiple warehouse sites and distribution channels.
  • Deployment of management control reporting including operational metrics.
  • Financial planning, capital management, and budgeting / cost management.
  • Implementing lean principles in manufacturing environment.
  • Experience utilizing software systems such as: E-Mail, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and Databases.
  • Ability to work well in a team environment
  • Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
  • Strategic thinking skills to create relevant processes, policies, and procedures
  • Effective interpersonal and customer service skills

IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Strong leader with demonstrated team/employee development experience. One others want to follow.
  • Experience leading a multi-site operation that includes blending, packaging, and distribution (i.e. chemical, food, lubricants).
  • High integrity.
  • Self-directed.
  • One with the ability to push us to the next level.
  • Strong relationship development.
  • Strong business acumen.
  • One who thrives in creating/building processes and procedures.
  • Team orientation.
  • Collaborative style.
  • Hands-on approach – not a silo’d environment.
  • Manages a high work volume well.

Environment (Working Conditions):  Job activity will include both office environment and shop floor at multiple sites.

Safety Hazards of the job: All safety hazards associated with a manufacturing plant and an office environment. Personality of workforce: very friendly and collaborative group.

Dress Code:          Business Casual

What’s In It For You?

  • This business is a fun business – dealing with the best brands of the best companies in the world.
  • Working with people who live and die by Character and Integrity
  • Working with the existing team in a terrific culture.
  • Growth focus of the organization.
  • Great Location. A huge facility with great growth capacity.
  • Seeing success of the BU grow through your efforts.
  • Upward career trajectory.

NOTE: Employment is contingent upon a successful employment/education verification and a background check. Some positions also require a drug screen, a pre-hire medical exam, and/or credit check. Must meet all work eligibility requirements.

CONTACT:     dcs@csi-search.com,  Donna Sphar, CSI Executive Search