Director of Operations

Kdm Engineering • Chicago, IL

24d

About The Position

At KDM Engineering, growth has always been driven by strong people, trusted partnerships, and a commitment to delivering exceptional work. As an award-winning, minority- and woman-owned engineering firm, KDM continues to expand its capabilities, teams, and reach. As we enter our next stage of growth, we are making a proactive investment in the operational infrastructure that will support where we are going next. We are seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Operations who can help translate growth into scalable systems, strong cross-functional alignment, and consistent execution. This individual will work closely with the CEO and executive leadership team while providing leadership and support across key corporate functions, including HR, IT, and Administration. The right person is both a strategic thinker and an executor—someone who can assess how the organization is operating, anticipate what will be needed next, identify opportunities for improvement, and turn ideas into practical plans that move the business forward.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred), or equivalent relevant experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations management or a related leadership capacity.
• A strong executor who takes ownership and follows initiatives through completion.
• A strategic thinker who can anticipate future operational needs while managing today's priorities.
• An effective and trusted thought partner who can exchange ideas, provide thoughtful perspective, and communicate candidly and constructively with executive leadership.
• Highly relational and able to build credibility across personalities, departments, and levels of the organization.
• Comfortable working closely with an entrepreneurial CEO in a fast-moving environment.
• Able to translate complex information and evolving priorities into clear decisions, plans, and action items.
• Curious and analytical, with the ability to evaluate existing practices and identify opportunities to make good systems even better.
• Comfortable moving between strategic planning and hands-on problem-solving.
• Adaptable, resourceful, and calm when priorities shift or new opportunities emerge.
• A leader who understands that strong operations should enable growth, not slow it down.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into clear, executable operational plans.
• Anticipate the operational needs of a growing organization and develop scalable processes, systems, and resources to support continued expansion.
• Provide leadership and oversight across key corporate support functions, including HR, IT coordination, Administration, facilities, and vendor relationships.
• Evaluate operational performance and identify opportunities to strengthen efficiency, communication, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead strategic initiatives from concept through implementation, establishing clear priorities, ownership, timelines, and measures of success.
• Develop and monitor meaningful KPIs and operational metrics that provide leadership with visibility into performance, priorities, and emerging needs.
• Partner with Engineering, Finance, HR, Recruiting, and Business Development leaders to align resources and operational priorities with business objectives.
• Strengthen workflows and processes through thoughtful standardization, technology, automation, and continuous improvement.
• Support department leaders in removing operational barriers and ensuring teams have the tools, resources, and support needed to succeed.
• Lead and coordinate high-priority initiatives that span multiple departments or support company-wide growth.
• Evaluate systems, vendors, and external partners to ensure they continue to meet the needs of a growing organization.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Frontloaded Paid time off and 11 company paid holidays
• Flexible work schedules and great work-life balance
• Professional development, training, and career growth opportunities
• Supportive leadership and a culture that values your ideas
• A collaborative, inclusive, and positive team environment
• Growth and advancement opportunities
• Life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Parental and maternity leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Volunteer leave
• Sabbatical leave
• Team-building events and happy hours
• Relaxed office culture with a meditation space, nap room, and nursing mothers' room

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director