Director Operational Excellence

"The OpportunityKrosswood Doors is at a pivot point. We are a $30M omni-channel building materials manufacturer (HomeDepot.com, Krosswood.com) scaling rapidly toward $50M+. To handle this volume, we must transform our Tucson manufacturing facility from a \"craftsman\" culture to a world-class, scalable industrial operation.
We are looking for a Process Architect who will become part of our Plant Leadership Team.You will join us with a specific mandate: stabilize the foundation. You will spend your first 6–12 months assessing every stage of production, documenting the \"tribal knowledge,\" and creating rigorous Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Crucially, you will also introduce a metrics-driven management style, ideally implementing Lean Manufacturing principles to our floor—not as complex theory, but as practical tools to make the work easier, faster, and safer.
The Mission: First 12 MonthsCodify the Process: Conduct a full audit of our assembly and finishing lines. Translate unwritten processes into clear, visual-first Standard Work instructions (photos, diagrams, and simple text) that can be understood by all employees, regardless of language.Metric Definition & Accountability: We currently lack clear performance tracking. You will define the \"Vital Few\" KPIs (e.g., Throughput per Man-Hour, Scrap Rate, Schedule Attainment) and implement a daily routine where these numbers are reviewed and acted upon.Lean Efficiency & Waste Reduction: You will train the team to spot and eliminate the \"Hidden Factory\" costs—specifically Motion (walking too far for tools) and Waiting (bottlenecks). You will re-organize the operation to improve material flow.Build the \"School of Krosswood\": Implement a \"Training Within Industry\" (TWI) style program. Teach our supervisors how to train against the new SOPs and how to manage their teams against the new metrics.Visual Factory Deployment: Install visual management systems (Shadow boards, hourly scoreboards) that allow anyone to understand the status of the plant within 5 seconds of walking the floor.
The Future: Year 1+Transition into full operational leadership of the Tucson plant.Manage P&L responsibilities, labor planning, and safety culture.Drive the expansion of capacity to support rapid growth.
Who You AreThe Player-Coach: You don’t write SOPs from your desk; you write them standing at the chopsaw next to the operator. You are comfortable getting dusty.The Data-Driven Manager: You believe that \"what gets measured gets managed.\" You are comfortable setting targets and holding the team accountable to hitting them, using data to identify where we are winning or losing.The Visual Thinker: You understand that a 20-page text document is useless on a factory floor. You believe in one-point lessons, color coding, and simple visual instructions.The Bilingual Leader: You can connect deeply with both our managers and our floor staff. (Spanish fluency is a major distinct advantage).
QualificationsEducation: BS in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Operations Management.Experience: 7+ years in manufacturing operations, with at least 3 years in a dedicated Continuous Improvement, Quality, or Process Engineering role.Management Style: Proven experience in implementing KPI dashboards and managing teams based on performance metrics.Certifications: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt required.Industry Fit: Experience in high-mix/low-volume manufacturing (doors, windows, cabinetry, furniture) is highly preferred over high-speed automation.
Why Krosswood?Impact: You won't be a cog in a wheel. You will be the architect of our operating system.Culture: We are builders. We value direct communication, objective data, and a bias for action."