Director of Operations

We are seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead the performance, development, and continuous improvement of multiple operational functions within a growing organization.This is a strategic yet hands-on leadership role for someone who can translate business objectives into measurable results, develop strong managers, improve processes, and make sound decisions in situations where there may not be a clear precedent or established answer.The successful candidate will bring strong business judgment, intellectual curiosity, accountability, and follow-through, along with the ability to balance business priorities, employee considerations, customer impact, financial implications, and organizational risk.What You'll DoLead Operations & Drive PerformanceProvide leadership and oversight across multiple operational departments through managers and supervisors.Establish clear expectations, accountability, performance standards, and measurable goals.Monitor operational performance and identify gaps, risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.Develop and implement action plans with clear ownership, timelines, and measurable outcomes.Establish and monitor meaningful KPIs and reporting to support effective decision-making.Anticipate operational challenges and address issues proactively.Use Sound Judgment & Make Effective DecisionsMake thoughtful, timely decisions when policies, procedures, or past practices do not fully address a situation.Consider business impact, customer experience, employees, financial implications, compliance, and organizational risk when evaluating decisions.Clearly communicate the reasoning, risks, assumptions, and trade-offs behind significant decisions and recommendations.Recognize when an individual situation may have broader organizational implications or establish precedent.Resolve issues independently when appropriate and know when executive leadership involvement is needed.Bring forward well-reasoned recommendations when escalating complex issues.Identify recurring challenges that may require new or updated policies, processes, or leadership guidance.Improve Processes & Organizational EffectivenessEvaluate workflows, processes, organizational structures, and resource utilization to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, quality, and scalability.Lead the implementation of practical operational improvements.Challenge existing processes when needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity or bureaucracy.Ensure expectations, procedures, and processes are clearly documented and consistently applied.Partner cross-functionally to improve operations through technology, automation, systems, data, and process redesign.Support an organization that is growing and evolving by helping build scalable operational infrastructure.Develop Leaders & Build Strong TeamsLead, coach, and develop managers through clear expectations, regular feedback, and ongoing development.Build leaders who are capable of solving problems independently and exercising sound judgment.Conduct regular performance and operational reviews with management teams.Address leadership and performance concerns directly, professionally, and respectfully.Identify and develop high-potential leaders to support succession planning.Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.Partner with Executive LeadershipWork closely with executive leadership to establish and execute short- and long-term operational priorities.Serve as a trusted business partner by identifying risks, opportunities, trends, and areas for improvement.Provide thoughtful recommendations and practical solutions to complex operational challenges.Build strong cross-functional relationships and respectfully challenge assumptions when appropriate.Demonstrate strong stewardship of company resources and an understanding of the dynamics of a growing, privately held organization.Balance structure and scalability with the flexibility required in an evolving business.Manage competing priorities while maintaining focus on broader organizational objectives.What We're Looking ForSignificant progressive leadership experience in operations, with responsibility for multiple departments, functions, or complex teams.Proven success leading, developing, and holding managers accountable.Strong business judgment and the ability to make decisions in complex, ambiguous, or non-routine situations.Ability to clearly explain the reasoning, risks, assumptions, and trade-offs behind decisions and recommendations.Strong business and financial acumen.Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions.Experience using KPIs, reporting, and operational data to drive performance and decision-making.Proven success leading process improvement, organizational change, or operational transformation.Ability to think strategically while remaining close enough to the operation to understand execution.Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.High level of professionalism, discretion, emotional intelligence, and personal accountability.Proactive, resourceful, intellectually curious, and comfortable operating independently.Preferred QualificationsBachelor's degree in business administration, operations, or a related field; advanced degree or equivalent leadership experience is a plus.Experience in a privately held, family-owned, founder-led, or entrepreneurial organization.Experience in a private equity-backed, investor-owned, or similarly performance-driven organization.Experience in a startup, early-stage, or high-growth environment where processes and infrastructure are evolving.Experience supporting organizational growth, transformation, acquisition integration, or significant operational change.