Director, Operations - Brickworks Supply

About the Company:

Glen-Gery Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brickworks Limited. Brickworks Limited ("The Group") is a large Australian-listed group of companies. The Group has been in operation since the early 1900s, has a market capitalization exceeding $2.5 billion, and operates across 3 core business segments: Building Products, Land & Development, and Investments. The Group employs more than 2,000 FTE employees and operates nationally across Australia, recently acquiring Glen-Gery Corporation to add operations in the USA.

Founded in 1890, Glen-Gery Corporation is one of the nation's largest brick and masonry product suppliers and operates through a network of over 500 distributors as well as in Canada and 26 owned Masonry Supply Centers.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Operations will provide strategic leadership and operational excellence across Brickworks Supply including East, West, and Central regions. Based in Palos Hills, IL, this role is responsible for overseeing operations while driving standardization of processes, procedures, and location operations throughout the organization. Key focus areas include improving customer experience, developing operational talent, maintaining a strong safety focus, and providing sales-driven leadership that supports revenue growth. This position requires deep building materials industry expertise and the ability to optimize operations across diverse geographic markets while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and efficiency.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Provide executive leadership to the Regional Operations Team ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and operational excellence standards
• Drive standardization initiatives across all locations, implementing consistent processes, procedures, and operational protocols throughout the entire footprint
• Develop and execute comprehensive operational strategies that support business growth and market expansion objectives
• Lead cross-regional collaboration to leverage best practices and optimize resource allocation across all markets
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for operational efficiency, safety performance, quality, and customer satisfaction

Building Materials Operations Excellence

• Oversee distribution operations across all supply centers and product distribution facilities
• Optimize supply chain management including product procurement, inventory management, and distribution logistics
• Ensure quality control standards are maintained consistently across all facilities and supply centers
• Drive operational efficiency improvements through lean operational principles and continuous improvement initiatives
• Manage capacity planning to align distribution capabilities with market demand and sales forecasts

Standardization & Process Improvement

• Implement standardized operating procedures across all locations to ensure consistency and operational excellence
• Develop and deploy best practice protocols for distribution and customer service operations
• Lead process optimization initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance productivity
• Establish consistent reporting and measurement systems across all operational regions
• Drive technology adoption and automation initiatives to standardize and improve operational capabilities

Customer Experience Enhancement

• Focus on improving customer experience through operational excellence and service delivery optimization
• Collaborate with sales teams to ensure operations support customer needs and business development objectives
• Implement customer-centric operational processes that enhance ease of doing business
• Establish service level agreements and performance metrics that prioritize customer satisfaction
• Oversee order fulfillment and delivery operations to ensure timely and accurate customer service

People Development & Leadership

• Develop and mentor regional management teams across all markets
• Create comprehensive leadership development programs for operational management personnel
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and high performance throughout all operational locations
• Lead succession planning initiatives for key operational positions across the enterprise
• Promote employee engagement and retention through effective leadership and professional development opportunities

Sales-Driven Operations Leadership

• Align operational capabilities with sales strategies and market opportunities
• Support business development by ensuring operational readiness for new markets and customer segments
• Collaborate with sales leadership to optimize product availability and delivery capabilities
• Drive revenue-supporting operational decisions that enhance competitive positioning
• Ensure operational flexibility to support changing market demands and sales initiatives

Financial & Performance Management

• Manage operational budgets and cost control initiatives across all regions
• Conduct monthly variance reviews with regional management teams
• Set operational goals and KPIs, determining course of action to achieve targets and mobilizing resources to execute plans
• Oversee capital expenditure planning for operational improvements and facility upgrades
• Drive profitability improvements through operational efficiency and cost optimization

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all safety policies and procedures at all operational locations
• Maintain adherence to State and Federal OSHA and MSHA requirements across all facilities
• Promote a strong safety culture and implement safety improvement initiatives
• Oversee environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives
• Conduct regular safety audits and implement corrective actions as needed

Additional Responsibilities

• Visit key operational locations regularly, attend industry events and trade shows to maintain market visibility
• Monitor and provide strategic direction for inventory management and forecasting across all locations
• Oversee capital asset management including facility maintenance, upgrading, and disposal decisions
• Lead corporate goal achievement initiatives and ensure operational objectives are met
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or equivalent experience required
• Master's Degree (MBA or Engineering) preferred

Experience

• Minimum 15+ years of operations management experience in building materials industry or related distribution sector
• Minimum 10+ years in senior leadership roles managing multiple locations and regional operations teams
• Proven track record of leading large-scale operations across diverse geographic markets
• Experience in standardization and process improvement initiatives across multi-location operations
• Background in distribution operations including supply chain management, quality control, and logistics management

Technical Skills

• Proficient with operational management systems including ERP, MRP, and supply chain management software
• Strong analytical skills with experience in data analysis, performance metrics, and operational reporting
• Knowledge of lean operational principles and continuous improvement methodologies
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred)
• Understanding of building materials industry including market dynamics, customer requirements, and competitive landscape
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial management for large operational organizations

Leadership & Personal Qualities

• Exceptional leadership abilities with proven success in developing and managing senior management teams
• Strong communication skills with ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels
• Results-oriented approach with focus on operational excellence and customer satisfaction
• Change management expertise with ability to drive organizational transformation and standardization
• Strategic thinking capabilities combined with hands-on operational experience
• Travel flexibility - ability to travel regularly across all operational regions while being based in the East region (DC, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Manassas Market) (50%+ travel expected)

Industry Knowledge

• Deep understanding of building materials industry including distribution and retail operations
• Knowledge of masonry products and construction industry requirements
• Experience with multi-channel distribution including wholesale and retail operations
• Understanding of industry regulations and compliance requirements
• Familiarity with industry best practices and competitive landscape

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• Operational efficiency metrics across all regions and facilities
• Safety performance indicators including incident rates and compliance scores
• Customer satisfaction scores and service level achievement
• Quality metrics and defect reduction initiatives
• Cost management and budget performance across all operations
• Standardization implementation progress and adoption rates
• Employee engagement and retention rates in operational roles
• Revenue support metrics demonstrating operations contribution to sales growth

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and as such the employee will also be required to perform other reasonable business duties as may be assigned by their immediate supervisor and/or other management personnel.

Equal Opportunity Employer