Director of Operations-Specialty Division

Director of Operations-Specialty Division

Core Leadership Competencies

Results Ownership

Sets ambitious OKRs, tracks performance in real time, and consistently beats targets.

Change Leadership

Builds buy-in, removes barriers, and accelerates adoption of new processes, technologies, and approaches.

Talent Development

Coaches, mentors, and succession-plans; creates stretch assignments and celebrates growth.

Courageous Problem Solving

Tackles conflict, risk, and complexity with data, empathy, and swift action.

Strategic Agility

Anticipates industry trends and positions the operation for future success.

Digital & Data Fluency

Leverages WMS / ERP analytics, automation, and AI-driven insights to inform decisions.

Collaboration & Influence

Builds trust across functions and with external partners to optimize organizational capabilities.

Key Responsibilities & Outcomes

• Strategic Results & Financial Performance
• Translate corporate strategy into annual and quarterly operational OKRs; cascade goals through all Specialty facilities.
• Own P&L for warehousing, transportation, and inventory; execute the plan by optimizing cost structures and driving sustained profit growth
• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
• Deploy continuous improvement methodology (Lean / Six Sigma, 4DX, Design Thinking, etc.) and digital tools to drive gains in OTIF delivery, inventory accuracy, quality and labor productivity.
• Oversee facility layout, automation, and material-handling projects that increase capacity and reduce waste.
• Customer Experience & Service Quality
• Lead Voice-of-Customer (VOC) initiatives; measure customer satisfaction, OTIF, claim rates, and drive action plans to lift service levels.
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, and Purchasing / Sourcing to anticipate customer needs, resolve escalations rapidly, and convert feedback into operational improvements.
• Create a culture where every employee owner understands their impact on the customer and feels empowered to act on behalf of the client.
• Change & Transformation
• Lead cross-functional initiatives (e.g., WMS upgrades & system changes) from ideation through sustainment.
• Influence senior stakeholders with compelling business cases and change-readiness roadmaps.
• Talent Development & Engagement
• Recruit, coach, and retain a diverse team of managers and frontline associates; build a successor bench for critical roles.
• Facilitate regular development conversations and targeted learning journeys; recognize high performance.
• Complex Issue & Risk Management
• Act decisively on safety incidents, service failures, or compliance gaps; conduct root-cause analysis and implement countermeasures.
• Mediate conflicts and address under-performance promptly, using data and empathy to reach sustainable resolutions.
• Safety, Quality & Compliance
• Champion a zero-incident culture; ensure OSHA, DOT, and hazmat compliance through audits and proactive training.
• Maintain robust inventory controls to minimize shrink, damage, and obsolescence.
• Stakeholder Partnership & Communication
• Serve as the primary operations voice in Sales & Ops Planning, customer business reviews, and supplier negotiations translating operational metrics into commercial value.
• Communicate performance, risks, and wins transparently to executives, peers, customers and team members

Qualifications

Education & Certifications

Experience

Technical & Professional Skills

Physical & Travel Requirements