Operations Director

TOGETHER, WE SAVE LIVES

Summary

The Operations Director is responsible for developing and executing the operations strategy for the Jacksonville body armor manufacturing facility. This role provides site leadership across manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, continuous improvement, and operational excellence to ensure safe, efficient, and scalable execution aligned with company objectives.

The Operations Director serves as a champion of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and the Cadre Operating Model, driving a culture of continuous improvement while building organizational structures, leadership capability, and operational systems that support growth and deliver exceptional customer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the operations strategy to support facility performance, growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence.
• Lead manufacturing operations and manufacturing engineering functions to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity objectives.
• Partner cross functionally with Sales, Supply Chain, Engineering, Product Development, Customer Service, Quality, and HR to align operational capabilities with business priorities.
• Establish performance goals, KPIs, and accountability systems that drive results across the organization.
• Lead capacity planning, labor planning, capital investment, and operational readiness for growth, new products, and facility expansion.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem solving methodologies to improve operational performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, quality, lead time reduction, waste elimination, labor efficiency, and cost optimization.
• Provide strategic oversight of automation, process improvement, manufacturing technology, and capital projects to enhance operational capability and scalability.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, customer, and environmental requirements while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Build organizational capability through leadership development, succession planning, workforce planning, and organizational design.
• Manage operational budgets and business performance through data-driven decision making, operational reviews, and corrective action planning.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5+ years leading managers and multi-functional operational organizations.
• Proven experience leading manufacturing operations in a complex, high-mix manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Operational Excellence systems.
• Strong experience leading organizational transformation, culture change, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing manufacturing engineering, automation, capital projects, and process improvement programs.
• Background in ballistic armor, protective equipment, defense, aerospace, composites, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
• Experience working within environments requiring strict quality, traceability, regulatory, and customer compliance standards.

Preferred Certifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker with a strong operational mindset.
• Proven ability to lead through influence and drive cross functional alignment.
• Skilled coach and developer of leaders and teams.
• Builds accountability while fostering a respectful and engaged culture.
• Deep understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong knowledge of value stream management, operational metrics, and performance systems.
• Strong financial and operational decision making skills.
• Ability to balance customer needs, operational capability, and business priorities.
• Experience driving growth while maintaining operational discipline.

Physical & Work Environment

• Regular presence on the manufacturing floor.
• Ability to work around industrial equipment, materials, and PPE requirements.
• Occasional travel to other company locations, suppliers, and customers.
• Occasional extended hours or off-shift support based on business needs.

Why work at Safariland?

At Safariland our colleagues are some of the best and brightest in the industry and we are seeking new team members who exhibit the diverse competencies that will drive The Safariland Group to even greater success while maintaining our culture of being a great place to work. We believe innovation drives winning performance and we constantly challenge ourselves to be the very best in every aspect of our business. We cultivate a work culture driven by our 4 core values; integrity, curiosity, excellence and empowerment and we want associates to be involved in their work and communities so they can achieve their highest level of wellbeing. That is why Safariland offers a comprehensive suite of benefits to promote health and financial security for eligible employees and their families.

Eligible employees are offered:

• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer paid life insurance and AD&D
• Employer paid disability
• Wellness program
• Adoption assistance
• Tuition assistance
• Employee assistance program
• Work life balance
• Paid time off (PTO), sick leave and paid holidays throughout the calendar year (consistent with relevant state law and company policies)

The Safariland Group believes in the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative actions. We pride ourselves on hiring and developing the best people, without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law.

For those applicants with disabilities, if you require reasonable accommodation in searching for a job opening or submitting an application, please contact us by calling 888-469-6455.

All employment decisions are solely based on the applicant's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position.