Director of Operations - Startup Manufacturing | High-Growth Platform

Job Description

Director of Operations – Early-Stage Manufacturing Platform

Confidential Client | North Georgia (On-Site)

Why you should be interested in this role:

This Director of Operations role is a ground-floor leadership opportunity with a founder-led manufacturing startup preparing to launch its first production facility in February 2026.

• This is a rare chance to build an operation from day one, not fix a broken plant, not manage through layers, but to help design how the business runs as it scales from startup to a $40–$50M revenue platform over the next several years.
• This role is intentionally hands-on in the early stages. The right leader will be deeply involved in production, staffing, workflow, and daily execution while also keeping an eye on what needs to be built—people, process, metrics, and systems—to support rapid growth without unnecessary complexity.
• If you are energized by startup environments, value practical execution over bureaucracy, and enjoy building something the right way from the beginning, this role offers both challenge and long-term impact.

ROLE CTQs (Critical to Quality):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or related field preferred
• 7–15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• Prior experience as a Plant Manager or Manufacturing Operations Manager in a growing environment
• Demonstrated success in startup, greenfield, or early-stage manufacturing operations is a plus
• Strong understanding of production flow, labor-driven operations, and hands-on leadership
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Comfortable operating with limited infrastructure while building scalable discipline
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship

Company:

Confidential

Position:

Director of Operations

Location:

Southern Part of Hall County in Northern Georgia (On-Site)

Reporting:

COO

Compensation:

Competitive base compensation with performance-based incentive Bonus

Relocation:

Local or regional candidates preferred

Limited relocation assistance may be considered

Company Profile:

Our client is a privately held, founder-led manufacturing startup preparing to launch a differentiated product platform in a competitive market. The leadership team brings prior entrepreneurial and operating experience and is intentionally building the business quietly ahead of market entry.

The company’s strategy emphasizes operational discipline, product quality, and scalable execution, with a clear plan to grow rapidly over the next three to five years. This role plays a central part in shaping how that growth occurs.

Position Description and Responsibilities:

The Director of Operations is accountable for the day-to-day execution and build-out of manufacturing operations, with ownership of safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.

This is a highly visible role requiring daily presence on the floor and close partnership with leadership.

Startup Execution & Operational Build (Primary Focus)

• Lead daily production operations during plant startup and ramp-up
• Establish foundational operating rhythms, metrics, and accountability
• Balance hands-on execution with thoughtful system development
• Ensure quality standards and customer commitments are met consistently

People & Leadership Development

• Recruit, develop, and mentor early production and operations team members
• Set clear expectations for performance, problem-solving, and escalation
• Build supervisory capability as the organization grows
• Create a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement

Process Discipline & Continuous Improvement

• Introduce practical Lean principles without over-engineering processes
• Improve workflow, throughput, and labor productivity as volume increases
• Implement standard work, visual management, and basic KPI tracking
• Support future automation or system investments with clear ROI logic

Cross-Functional & Supply Chain Coordination

• Coordinate with suppliers, vendors, and service partners
• Manage inventory, material flow, and basic supply chain execution
• Partner with leadership on capacity planning and growth readiness

Position Critical to Quality + Success (CTQ+S): Technical Requirements:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and production management
• Experience tracking and improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost metrics
• Comfort using basic ERP, dashboards, or operational reporting tools
• Solid financial and labor cost awareness

Position Critical to Quality + Success (CTQ+S): Leadership / Behavioral Requirements:

• Leads from the floor, not from an office
• Comfortable making decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
• Balances urgency with thoughtful execution
• Builds structure without bureaucracy
• Earns trust through consistency, clarity, and follow-through
• Energized by startup and growth-stage challenges

This role is not for someone who:

• Prefers established systems and large corporate infrastructure
• Avoids hands-on involvement in daily operations
• Needs fully built teams and processes to be effective
• Is uncomfortable with ambiguity or rapid change
• Seeks a purely strategic or oversight-only role