Director - Operations - Brickworks Supply

Glen-Gery•Palos Hills, IL

About The Position

Brickworks North America (Brickworks N.A.) is the North American arm of Brickworks of Australia, the largest and most trusted brick manufacturer and supplier. Today, Brickworks N.A. is the leading brick manufacturer and distributor, operating eight brick manufacturing facilities under the Glen-Gery brand, a continuously innovative creator of premium brick products. Through technological advancements and product innovations, Glen-Gery offers a diverse, premium portfolio of more than 400 genuine clay brick products, which are crafted locally and sourced globally, catering to the high-style needs of today's architects, designers and homeowners. Together, Brickworks N.A. and Glen-Gery are taking building design to the next level, helping architects, builders and homeowners explore greater solutions, giving shape to expression, and forging deeper connections. Brickworks N.A. operates 26 company-owned Supply Centers, known as Brickworks Supply Centers, spanning across the Eastern and Midwestern United States, and three high-end Brickworks Design Studios located in Philadelphia, Baltimore and the global flagship store located on 5th Avenue in New York City. The Director of Operations is the operational architect of Brickworks Supply, responsible for translating strategy into disciplined, repeatable execution across all 27 supply centers. Reporting to the Vice President of Brickworks Supply, this leader owns the Operational Excellence pillar of the BWS strategic plan and directly enables our growth, customer, and people pillars.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or equivalent demonstrated experience required
10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in building materials distribution, industrial distribution, or a comparable multi-location operating environment
5+ years leading multi-site operations through regional or general management leaders
Demonstrated track record of leading operational transformation, not just running steady-state operations
Proven experience executing facility consolidations, closures, or new market stand-ups with disciplined people, customers, and asset transitions
Direct experience operating within a sales-led, customer-facing distribution model
Strong financial acumen with experience owning operational P&L, building budgets, and presenting to executive and board audiences
Proficiency with ERP, inventory management, and operational reporting systems; comfort working with data and analysts to drive decisions

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree (MBA, Engineering, or Operations) preferred
Lean Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt minimum; Black Belt strongly preferred). Demonstrated application of DMAIC, 5S, Kaizen, and TIMWOODS in real operational environments

Responsibilities

Establishing and sustaining standardized operating procedures across all supply centers
Embedding Lean Six Sigma methodology and continuous improvement discipline into the daily operating rhythm
Driving measurable productivity, capacity, and efficiency gains year over year
Owning the operational performance of the supply center network
Leading footprint decisions, consolidations, closures, and new location stand-ups, with operational, financial, and human discipline
Partnering on real estate, facility, and capital investment decisions
Ensuring every supply center delivers a consistent, professional customer experience
Setting and holding service-level standards for accuracy, responsiveness, and ease of doing business
Partnering closely with sales leadership, so operations enable, rather than constrain, growth
Owning inventory discipline, working capital performance, and supply chain execution across the network
Aligning operational capacity with sales strategy and demand
Leading and developing Regional Operations Managers and supply center leadership across the network
Building a deep operational bench through deliberate succession planning and development
Setting the cultural standard for the operations organization
Owning the operational P&L: labor productivity, freight, facility costs, inventory carrying costs, and shrinkage
Budgeting, forecasting, and the monthly Board Review
Managing capital expenditure planning and prioritization across the network
Owning safety performance across the network as a non-negotiable leadership standard by building a safety culture rooted in leading indicators and personal accountability
Ensuring full compliance with State and Federal OSHA, MSHA, and environmental requirements