Director of Operations

Director of Operations; Chemical Manufacturing

Location:

Eastern suburb of Cleveland, OH

Compensation:

The compensation will consist of base salary commensurate with experience + Performance-Based Incentives (typically ranging between 10%-20%)

Opportunity Summary:

We are excited to be partnering with one of our best clients to recruit for a Director of Operations for a privately held specialty chemical company with a strong legacy of quality, technical expertise, customer responsiveness, and operational agility. Located in an eastern suburb of Cleveland, OH, the company operates with an entrepreneurial mindset, long-standing customer relationships, and a culture centered around Quality, Innovation, and Service. The Director of Operations will lead and strengthen operational execution, manufacturing performance, environmental health and safety (EHS), compliance systems, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. The ideal candidate will combine strong manufacturing and operational leadership capabilities with practical EHS competency, systems thinking, organizational discipline, and the ability to build scalable operational processes that support long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Operations Leadership & Execution (50% of time will be spent in this area)

• Lead day-to-day operational execution across manufacturing and warehouse activities
• Drive operational discipline, accountability, process consistency, and execution excellence
• Partner with plant leadership to improve throughput, scheduling, workflow, labor utilization, and operational efficiency
• Support inventory flow, production planning, capacity management, and operational scalability
• Identify operational bottlenecks and lead corrective action initiatives
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, productivity, quality, and process optimization
• Develop and strengthen KPI visibility, operational reporting, and performance accountability systems
• Support development of sustainable operational processes that reduce dependency on individuals and improve organizational continuity
• Lead operational and organizational change initiatives with strong communication, accountability, and team alignment

Continuous Improvement & Operational Scalability (20% of time will be spent in this area)

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, productivity, quality, and process optimization
• Strengthening sustainable operational processes that reduce dependency on individuals and improve organizational
• continuity
• Improve operational systems, workflow structure, and cross-functional coordination
• Support long-term operational maturity, scalability, and infrastructure development

EHS, Regulatory, and Risk Management Leadership (15% of time will be spent in this area)

• Lead and reinforce a proactive safety-first operational culture across the organization
• Oversee OSHA, EPA, DOT, environmental, and safety compliance activities
• Ensure proper management of OSHA recordables, incident investigations, corrective actions, and return-to-work coordination
• Support environmental permitting, regulatory reporting, inspections, and audit readiness
• Partner with operations leadership to conduct risk assessments tied to operational, equipment, or facility changes
• Ensure safety programs, training systems, SOPs, and compliance processes remain current and effective
• Coordinate with external regulatory agencies, consultants, insurers, and vendors as needed
• Drive operational ownership and accountability around EHS execution throughout the organization

Leadership, Culture, and Team Development (15% of time will be spent in this area)

• Build strong collaboration, communication, and alignment across departments and facilities
• Reinforce accountability, ownership, responsiveness, and operational transparency
• Coach and develop operational leaders and plant personnel
• Lead with urgency, accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement mindset
• Foster a culture where safety, quality, service, and execution operate as one integrated system rather than isolated functions
• Help strengthen organizational structure, operational maturity, and long-term scalability

Qualifications:

• BS degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or other Engineering or technical discipline.
• 7+ years of operational leadership experience within manufacturing, specialty chemicals, industrial products, or related environments
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, plant processes, operational systems, and production environments
• Practical experience with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and environmental compliance frameworks
• Experience leading incident investigations, corrective actions, and safety initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to improve operational performance, accountability, and organizational alignment
• Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on within fast-paced operational environments
• Experience managing priorities across multiple operational disciplines simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within specialty chemicals, coatings, construction materials, or industrial manufacturing environments
• Experience managing environmental permits, audits, and regulatory reporting processes
• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or process optimization experience
• ERP and operational KPI reporting experience
• EHS certifications or related operational/safety training are a plus, but not required for the right operational leader

What Success Looks Like:

• Stronger operational execution, accountability, and process discipline
• Improved safety engagement and compliance consistency across operations
• Reduced operational waste, inefficiencies, and preventable disruptions
• Improved KPI visibility and operational decision-making
• Stronger cross-functional alignment and communication
• Sustainable operational systems that reduce dependency on individuals
• A culture where safety, quality, service, accountability, and execution operate as one integrated operational system
• Improved operational scalability and organizational readiness for future growth

Keywords: Director of Operations, Chemical Manufacturing, EHS, OSHA, EPA, DOT, Continuous Improvement