On behalf of our client, a privately-held, Wisconsin-based design and engineering firm specializing in aquatics, we are seeking a Director of Operations responsible for providing strategic leadership across the organization by establishing collaborative relationships with Engineering, Technical Design, Administration and Production staff. This role will also provide cross-functional leadership support for Human Resources, Accounting & Finance and Administration. The primary goal is to drive operational excellence by ensuring teams meet organizational goals and exceed client/project expectations. The Director of Operations partners with executive leadership to execute business strategies and foster a culture of continuous improvement, productivity and growth.
Location: Dodge County Wisconsin - Relocation Assistance ProvidedPrimary Responsibilities:Staff Management & DevelopmentProvide day-to-day leadership, guidance, and support to project management, creative, engineering, document production and other technical staff, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high performing team environment.Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and workflows across operational functions.Support hiring, onboarding, training, professional development, performance management & succession planning.Identify staffing needs, capacity constraints and opportunities to improve resource allocation and team effectiveness.Promote effective communication and collaboration among staff, project teams, and company leadership.Organizational EffectivenessCollaborate and cooperate with all other staff teams such as administration, business development, and marketing.Lead and support organizational changes that improve the firm’s operational effectiveness, scalability, and ability to support its design and engineering practice.Assess the impact of proposed changes on staff, workflows, and business operations, and develop strategies to facilitate successful adoption.Communicate the purpose, benefits, expectations, and implementation requirements associated with operational changes, proactively addressing concerns through communication, training, and stakeholder engagement.Monitor implementation of changes and adjust as needed to ensure sustainable adoption and desired outcomesCross-Functional Leadership & CommunicationServe as a central resource for staff and leadership, connecting organizational priorities with day-to-day execution.Facilitate communication and coordination across administrative, financial, HR & technical project teams.Build trust and accountability while encouraging staff to identify problems, propose improvements, and participate in implementing solutions.Support company leadership in translating strategic priorities into actionable operational initiatives.Specific DutiesManagement responsibility for all technical and document production staff.Identify staff needs and provide recommendations for change.Responsible for the effective coordination and delivery of project documents.Manage and coordinate workloads.Determine individual and team capacity, adjusting to effectively address the company document delivery schedule.Responsible for staff development and training, optimizing personnel skills sets and managing project costs.Coordinate and collaborate with the Director of Engineering, Administration and Human Resources staff.Required Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills:Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related field.Five to ten years of experience in operations or staff management.Experience in the AE industry is strongly preferred.Works independently on projects, exercising good judgement, decision-making, and when and where to engage others to successfully complete a project.Manages multiple priorities and deadlines in a faced-paced environment.Interprets and takes timely action on internal expectations and team needs.Above average verbal and written communication skills.Excellent detail orientation and time management skills.