Director of Operations at Johnson Thermal Systems – Caldwell, Idaho

SUMMARY: The Director of Operations is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for manufacturing operations, with direct accountability for the performance of the (Nampa or Caldwell) facility. This role ensures operations are safe, efficient, scalable, and aligned with company objectives for quality, delivery, cost, and growth. The Director of Operations partners closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Executive Leadership to deliver high-quality, custom-engineered solutions that meet the critical demands of our customers while building a strong, people-centered culture of operational excellence.

Accountabilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all manufacturing operations, including fabrication, assembly, logistics, maintenance, and safety.
• Establish and execute operational strategies that align with company goals for growth, customer satisfaction, quality, and cost performance.
• Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with all safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Oversee production planning, capacity management, and resource allocation to consistently meet delivery commitments and customer expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across operations, leveraging lean manufacturing principles to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase productivity.
• Own and manage operational KPIs (on-time delivery, safety, quality, labor efficiency, cost, etc.), providing clear reporting and insights to executive leadership.
• Lead and develop plant leadership, including Plant Managers and/or Supervisors, ensuring strong succession planning and leadership capability.
• Partner with HR to recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing workforce while fostering engagement, accountability, and inclusion.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve operational challenges, support new product introductions, and execute custom-engineered solutions.
• Develop and manage operational budgets, capital planning, and cost controls, including labor, equipment, and facility investments.
• Support scalability and operational readiness for future growth, including systems, processes, and organizational design.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Requirements

• Direct oversight of Production Managers, Production Supervisors, and operational leaders.
• Responsible for hiring, performance management, coaching, leadership development, and succession planning within operations.

Attributes

• Safety First: Leads with an uncompromising commitment to safety.
• Have Humanity: Fosters a respectful, inclusive, and people-centered workplace.
• Be Transparent: Communicates clearly and honestly across all levels of the organization.
• Drive Innovation: Champions continuous improvement, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making.
• Be Resilient: Demonstrates calm, adaptability, and decisive leadership in the face of challenges.
• Always Reliable: Ensures consistent execution of production goals, compliance standards, and cost controls.
• Grit: Leads with perseverance and discipline.

Required Knowledge/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years in senior operations or plant leadership roles.
• Experience in custom manufacturing, metal fabrication, or enclosure production strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Strong working knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 a plus).
• Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, organizational, and communication skills.