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Director of Production & Operations

2000 Center Drive, East D315, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

Director of Production & Operations
Location: Hoffman Estates, IL

Who We Are
We are a rapidly growing, $40M+ premium branding solutions company serving corporate and collegiate markets nationwide. Known for delivering high-impact promotional merchandise and branding experiences, we’re driven by service, innovation, and a commitment to operational excellence. As we scale, we're building a leadership team that can drive sustainable growth and deliver exceptional value to our clients and teams.

The Opportunity
We are seeking a forward-thinking Director of Production & Operations to join our senior leadership team. This is a high-impact, strategic role responsible for overseeing all aspects of production, fulfillment, and warehouse operations. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience leading large-scale teams, managing a $7–10M P&L, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

This leader must understand the dynamics of the promotional merchandise industry and bring strong experience implementing Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational efficiency frameworks. In addition to daily execution, this individual will help shape company-wide initiatives, our operational roadmap, influence cross-functional strategy, and play a critical role in scaling our infrastructure for continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

  • Serve as a strategic partner on the senior leadership team, contributing to company-wide planning, growth strategy, and operational alignment.
  • Translate business goals into actionable operational plans that scale with growth and maintain service excellence.
  • Collaborate closely with Sales, Client Experience, Finance, and HR to ensure integrated execution and continuous improvement.

Operational Strategy & Execution

  • Lead all production, fulfillment, and warehouse functions, managing a high-performing team of 30–50 employees.
  • Design and implement scalable processes that optimize throughput, quality, and cost across departments.
  • Partner with vendors and procurement to maintain supply availability and cost control.
  • Champion methodologies (ie. Lean/Six Sigma) to eliminate waste, reduce variation, and improve speed to market.

Financial Oversight

  • Own the P&L for production and operations, managing $7–10M in expenses with a focus on margin improvement and operational efficiency.
  • Partner with Finance to develop forecasts, track KPIs, and drive cost-effective resource allocation.

People & Culture Leadership

  • Build and mentor a strong operational leadership bench. Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and high performance.
  • Lead organizational structure planning, workforce development, and succession strategies within the production environment.
  • Support employee engagement, performance management, and leadership development initiatives.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

  • Ensure adherence to all OSHA, ISO, and industry-specific regulatory standards.
  • Maintain a proactive, safety-first environment through strong training, accountability, and compliance programs.
  • Lead initiatives to elevate product quality, accuracy, and reliability at every stage of the production process.

What You Bring

  • 7+ years of senior operational leadership experience in promotional products, consumer goods, light manufacturing, or related industries.
  • Proven success managing a team of 30+ employees and full P&L accountability ($7–10M+).
  • Leverages tools like Excel and databases to analyze departmental performance and drive data-informed decisions.
  • Demonstrated ability to build scalable systems and processes in high-growth environments.
  • Strategic thinker with excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Experience with ERP/WMS systems and data-driven operations management.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or similar advanced degree a plus.

Work Environment

  • Physical Requirements: Ability to walk the floor regularly and lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
  • Schedule: Full-time, onsite leadership role with occasional extended hours based on production needs.

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