Position: Director of Operations
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Location: Claremore, Oklahoma
Department:
Reports to: VP of Operations
Overview:
Hayden Industrial is a rapidly scaling manufacturer of advanced industrial cooling and thermal management systems serving high-growth markets including data centers and infrastructure. We are seeking a Director of Operations (Site Leader – Amah Facility) to lead our Claremore operation with full ownership of manufacturing, supply chain, and warehousing.
This role is designed for a leader currently operating at—or ready to step into—the scope of a $100M+ manufacturing site. You will have broad authority to shape how the operation runs, scales, and performs.
You will be responsible for both building the next-generation operating model and driving immediate performance improvements. The mandate is clear: create a highly disciplined, scalable operation that can support significant growth while improving cost, delivery, and quality.
This is a high-impact, high-visibility role with the opportunity to build a best-in-class operation within a company that is investing heavily in its future.
Key Responsibilities:
- Full Site Ownership
- Own end-to end performance of the Claremore site across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
- Lead manufacturing, supply chain, and warehousing as a fully integrated operation.
- Establish clear accountability and performance standards across all functions.
- Act as the site leader, setting expectations, pace, and operating discipline.
- Build + Scale the Operation
- Design and implement the operating system required to support a $100M+scale operation.
- Build structure, process discipline, and management routines that drive consistency and predictability.
- Develop capacity strategies aligned with aggressive growth targets.
- Lead capital planning and deployment with a focus on throughput, efficiency, and ROI.
- Drive Operational Performance
- Improve on-time delivery, schedule adherence, and overall reliability.
- Increase throughput without proportional cost increases.
- Drive labor productivity and cost efficiency across the site.
- Identify and eliminate bottlenecks, constraints, and inefficiencies.
- Supply Chain & Material Flow Excellence
- Refine a high-performing, production-aligned supply chain at the plant level.
- Improve material availability, planning accuracy, and supplier coordination.
- Optimize inventory levels, accuracy, and working capital performance.
- Lead warehouse operations to ensure efficient flow from receiving through shipping.
- Continuous Improvement with Measurable Impact
- Lead Industrial Engineering and Continuous Improvement as core drivers of performance.
- Implement Lean principles focused on outcomes – not activity.
- Establish structured problem-solving and root cause discipline.
- Reduce cost of poor quality (COPQ), including scrap, rework, and inefficiencies.
- Leadership & Team Transformation
- Build and lead a high-performance leadership team across all functions.
- Upgrade talent where needed and develop strong internal capability.
- Create a culture of accountability, urgency, and execution.
- Develop succession plans and leadership depth to support continued scale.
- Cross-Functional Integration
- Partner with Engineering to ensure manufacturability and smooth new product introduction.
- Align closely with Supply Chain and Commercial teams to match production with demand.
- Ensure operational commitments are realistic, executable, and consistently delivered.
- Safety & Quality Leadership
- Champion a safety-first culture with zero tolerance for shortcuts.
- Drive improvements in quality, process capability, and consistency.
- Ensure robust systems are in place and followed across the operation.
Hayden Industrial has determined this position involves safety-sensitive job duties and will be considered a safety-sensitive position for purpose of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act (“The Unity Bill.”) effective August 29th, 2019.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelors degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or Supply Chain
- 12 – 20 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
- Proven track record leading large, complex manufacturing operations (approaching or exceeding $100M in scale).
- Experience with full site ownership including manufacturing, supply chain, and warehouse operations.
- Demonstrated success in both:
- Building operational structure in evolving environments
- Driving measurable performance improvements
- Experience in high-growth or scaling environments is strongly preferred.
Key Traits:
- Thinks and operations like business leader, not just a functional head
- Builder: can create systems, structure, and teams from evolving foundations
- Operator: drives disciplined execution and consistent results
- Hands-on and visible on the floor
- High accountability and ownership mindset
- Pragmatic and results-oriented
Success Metrics (KPIs):
- On-time deliveryand schedule adherence
- Labor productivity and cost performance
- Inventory turns, accuracy, and working capital
- Warehouse efficiency and on-time shipment performance
- Cost of poor quality (COPQ)
- Throughput and capacity utilization
- Leadership team strength and retention
Supervisor Responsibility:
This position has supervisory responsibilities.
Work Environment:
Non-temperature controlled environment with loud noises, dust, dirt, and metal particles that are usually associated with metal fabrication shops. All employees are required to wear personal protective equipment to include noise/hearing protection, safety glasses with side shields, (paint masks, respirator, when required) and OSHA compliant safety boots/shoes within the manufacturing facility.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing duties of this job, the employee in this position is regularly required to stand for long periods of time. This position requires walking, the ability to reach, ascend/descend ladders, bend, kneel, and stoop. The employee occasionally will lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Travel:
Travel is required for this position.
Benefits:
Hayden Industrial offers a generous benefits package including comprehensive health, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, a generous paid time off schedule, and professional development opportunities.
AAP/EEO Statement:
Hayden Industrial is an equal employment opportunity employer. Hayden Industrial recognizes and embraces federal legislation on equal employment opportunity and is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination. All applicants for employment and all employees will be afforded equal opportunity and treatment, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability status or other protected status. All employees are responsible for complying with all applicable Federal, State and Local Laws, rules and regulations regarding non-discrimination practices.