Director of Operations

CHANNELL COMMERCIAL CORP•Rockwall, TX

26d

About The Position

The Director of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across Channell’s multi-site manufacturing network. The role is accountable for safety, quality, productivity, cost, and delivery performance at each facility, while establishing a consistent operating system, talent pipeline, and culture of continuous improvement. The Director partners with Plant Managers, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, HR, and Finance to ensure sites operate effectively and that capacity, capital, and talent decisions support company growth and customer commitments. Channell, founded by the Channell family in 1922, designs, manufactures, and sells outside plant infrastructure equipment for markets including telecommunications, municipalities, internet service providers, wireless, water, power, and CATV. Its products include thermoplastic and metal fabricated enclosures, fiber optic cable connection and management systems, and below-grade vaults. This senior leadership role oversees operating strategy, budgets and P&L, capacity and capital planning, Plant Manager development, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and coordination across manufacturing sites. Regular travel between facilities is required, up to 40–50%, including international travel as applicable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience, including at least 5 years leading multiple sites or a multi-plant network.
Proven experience managing P&L, capital budgets, and operational KPIs across geographically dispersed facilities.
Deep knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or comparable continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong experience with ERP/MES systems and data-driven decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to lead through others, build high-performing teams, and manage change across a diverse, multi-site organization.
Working knowledge of OSHA, environmental regulations, and quality systems such as ISO 9001 or equivalent.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly up to 40–50% between facilities, including international travel as applicable.
Executive-level communication and presentation skills, including the ability to influence senior leadership and the board.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis.
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills in a fast-paced, multi-site manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

MBA or another advanced degree.
Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience in electronics, cable/connector, or precision component manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the multi-site manufacturing operations strategy in alignment with business goals, growth plans, and customer demand.
Establish and standardize a common operating system, including KPIs, daily management, and tiered accountability meetings, across all plants.
Set annual operating and capital budgets for all locations and own P&L accountability for manufacturing operations.
Drive productivity, throughput, and cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining or improving quality and service levels.
Lead network-wide capacity planning, footprint strategy, and capital investment decisions, including equipment, line expansions, and facility consolidations.
Manage and develop Plant Managers and Site Leaders, setting performance expectations and holding sites accountable to targets.
Build bench strength and succession plans for critical operations roles, partnering with HR on talent acquisition, development, and retention.
Promote engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement through regular site visits and gemba walks.
Standardize best practices and lead cross-site knowledge sharing to reduce performance variability.
Champion an EHS-first culture and ensure facilities meet or exceed OSHA and applicable regulatory requirements while reducing incident rates.
Ensure adherence to quality management systems, such as ISO 9001, and customer quality requirements across all sites.
Oversee compliance with environmental, labor, and applicable trade and export regulations at each facility.
Lead deployment of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and/or continuous improvement methodologies across locations.
Standardize processes, work instructions, and ERP/MES systems to improve consistency, data integrity, and decision-making.
Identify and lead major process improvement, automation, and cost-savings projects with measurable ROI.
Partner with Supply Chain and Planning to align production schedules with demand, inventory targets, and on-time delivery goals.
Collaborate with Engineering on new product introductions, process qualifications, and manufacturability improvements.
Work with Finance on cost accounting, standard costs, and margin improvement initiatives.
Partner with HR on workforce planning, labor relations, compensation strategy, and organizational design across sites.
Report operational performance and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and/or the board as needed.