Operations Director - Eichenauer

Client: Eichenauer, Inc.

Position Title: Operations Director

Website: www.eichenauerusa.com

Location for the Position: Newport, NH

Reports to: President & CEO

Base compensation: $120,000 - $130,000 per year

About Us:

Eichenauer Inc., is a privately owned, global manufacturer of high-quality heating systems for the automotive, home appliance, and industrial sectors. This family-run business has been an innovator for more than 90 years with locations in Germany, China, the Czech Republic, and Newport, New Hampshire.  There are approximately 500 employees worldwide and 85 employees at the Newport, New Hampshire location.

Eichenauer is a value driven organization that is committed to becoming the employer of choice in the Sugar River Valley region of New Hampshire.  The company is committed to employee development and providing quality products and service for internal and external customers.  They strive to achieve excellence in everything they do.

Position Overview:

The Operations Director is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations while leveraging a deep understanding of sales to optimize operational workflows, drive revenue growth, and ensure both internal and external customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will integrate operations strategies in support of the company’s value statement and sales strategies to enhance performance, improve efficiency, and contribute to the company’s bottom line. The Operations Director creates and implements employee development and operational strategies while ensuring smooth day-to-day activities.  This position will drive continuous improvement in business performance and team development. 

The Operations Director is a member of the senior management team.  This role will manage Logistics, Production, Maintenance, Purchasing, and Engineering while working closely with HR and Quality.  At times, the Operations Director will need to make tough decisions that may not be popular, but the decisions will align with what is best for the organization. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Employee Development: Drive and build upon the current employee training and improvement programs to increase advancement, engagement and retention in support of company initiatives.  First and foremost, this position is an educator and developer of people.
• Production Output: Recognize and reinforce the focus of the manufacturing departments to drive production output of quality products to meet or exceed customer demands.
• Process Optimization: Identify areas for operational improvement and lead initiatives to optimize workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and improve the overall performance of the business.
• Performance Metrics: Review current, establish new and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness of operations. Use data to drive decision-making and improvements.
• Budgeting & Resource Allocation: Manage the operational budget with a focus on allocating resources that support sales targets. Ensure efficient use of resources to support the operational side of sales, including inventory management, product availability, and delivery timelines.
• Forecasting & Reporting: Work closely with the sales team to track performance, monitor KPIs, and provide actionable insights through data analysis. Ensure accurate sales forecasting and report on operational outcomes that impact sales performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a bridge between the sales, marketing, finance, and engineering teams to ensure smooth coordination in executing operational activities. Drive alignment between departments to support both short-term and long-term business objectives.
• Sales Operations Strategy: Collaborate with the sales team to develop and implement operational strategies that support and drive sales growth. Ensure that operational workflows and resources are aligned with sales goals to maximize revenue generation.
• Team Leadership: Lead and manage operations teams across multiple functions. Oversee departmental managers, providing mentorship, training, and support to ensure team success.
• Supply Chain & Logistics Management: Oversee the management of supply chains, inventory, procurement, and distribution to ensure smooth operations and timely delivery of goods/services.
• Quality Control: Ensure that products/services meet quality standards and customer expectations in conjunction with the quality management team.
• Innovation & Technology: Stay updated on industry trends and technological advancements to introduce innovative solutions that enhance operational performance.
• Customer Experience & Satisfaction: Use insights from sales and operations data to improve customer experience. Address operational issues that impact customer satisfaction, including product delivery delays, inventory shortages, and order fulfillment.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, Operations Management, or related field (MBA or advanced degree is a plus).
• Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in operations management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in sales operations or sales management.
• Skills & Competencies:
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Exceptional skills in the identification of employees for development and creation of programs to maximize those inherent individual strengths while bolstering any weaknesses.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on collaboration.
• Extensive experience in both high-volume manufacturing and job-shop operational management.
• Experience in both program management and engineering
• Ability to drive cross-departmental alignment between, operations, sales and marketing teams.
• Experience in budget management, cost optimization, and resource allocation.
• Strong sales acumen and a deep understanding of the sales process.
• Ability to translate sales strategies into operational plans and actions. 

Benefits for You:

• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance

Gallagher, Flynn, & Company, LLP has been retained to conduct this search. Interested candidates may apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Mike Smith, Strategic HR Business Advisor. While we appreciate all interest in this exciting opportunity, only candidates most closely aligned with our search will be contacted.

Disclaimer: What is listed above is representative of the position's responsibilities but is not meant to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may change during employment at the company's discretion. Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP and our client do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.