Construction Operations Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Operations Director
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time
Company: Cooks Finish Carpentry

About Cooks Finish Carpentry

Cooks Finish Carpentry is a premium finish carpentry and millwork company specializing in high-end residential construction. We pride ourselves on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and delivering projects on schedule with exceptional client communication. As we continue to grow, we’re seeking a hands-on leader who can build structure, streamline operations, and manage multiple crews in the field.

Position Overview

The Operations Director oversees daily operations, crew scheduling, project execution, and workflow from contract through completion. This role ensures projects are completed on time, on budget, and to the highest craftsmanship standards—while implementing processes that support continued growth.

We are looking for someone proactive, solutions-oriented, and deliverable-focused—a leader who:

• Anticipates problems before they happen
• Removes roadblocks for the team
• Makes decisions and moves projects forward without waiting for direction
• Is driven by schedules, deadlines, and measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Scheduling

• Create, maintain, and proactively adjust weekly and long-term production schedules for crews.
• Anticipate labor, material, and equipment needs in advance.
• Identify scheduling conflicts before they occur and implement solutions immediately.
• Must have extensive working knowledge of Stack Estimating Software, T-Sheets, and Trello, and use them proactively for planning, forecasting, and prioritizing.
• Maintain scheduling dashboards and keep leadership informed to prevent challenges from escalating.

Project Management

• Proactively coordinate with clients, GCs, designers, and internal teams to ensure clarity on scope and deliverables.
• Review shop drawings, plans, and change orders prior to production to ensure readiness and flag any issues early.
• Lead project kickoff meetings with clear priorities and deliverable expectations.
• Use Trello to actively track daily movement of tasks, ensure ownership, and close gaps before they impact timelines.

Operational Leadership

• Build and refine processes that prevent bottlenecks and improve consistency across teams.
• Develop KPIs and reporting to measure productivity, quality, and profitability, and act on the numbers.
• Forecast labor and capacity needs in advance.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement scalable solutions that improve performance and output.

Team Leadership

• Proactively identify training needs or skill gaps and initiate training.
• Foster a culture where communication, ownership, and accountability are expected.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop new talent to ensure the team continually improves.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of finish carpentry, millwork, or construction project management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple projects and crews simultaneously.
• Strong blueprint and construction document interpretation skills.
• Proficiency in Stack, Trello, and T-Sheets is required.
• High level of organization, accountability, problem-solving, and proactive decision-making.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• 401(K) with 4% Matching
• 50% Heath Insurance Coverage
• 100% Dental, Vision, Chiropractic, and Life Insurance Coverage
• Paid time off + company holidays
• Clear growth path into expanded leadership roles as the company scales

We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. Cook’s also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Cook’s also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation or need assistance with completing the application process, please email careers@cooksfinishcarpentry.com.

Company DescriptionCooks Finish Carpentry’s primary goal is to exceed our clients' dreams and expectations for their custom homes. With over fifteen years of experience in the industry, our knowledge and craftsmanship are elegant, even if we are accomplishing a simple task. Since the start, we have worked with numerous builders, designers, and homeowners in the Orange County area, and this continues to grow yearly.

Company Description

Cooks Finish Carpentry’s primary goal is to exceed our clients' dreams and expectations for their custom homes. With over fifteen years of experience in the industry, our knowledge and craftsmanship are elegant, even if we are accomplishing a simple task. Since the start, we have worked with numerous builders, designers, and homeowners in the Orange County area, and this continues to grow yearly.