Director of Operations

Director of Operations/Plant Manager
Rochester, NY
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At RPI, we are transforming how products are created, produced, and delivered worldwide through a technology-driven, print-on-demand manufacturing platform. Every day, our cloud-based systems power millions of personalized, on-demand products that reach customers with speed, quality, and sustainability. We partner with leading brands, publishers, and creative platforms, including Blurb.com, our consumer-facing self-publishing brand, to bring ideas to life at global scale through a distributed manufacturing network.

We are seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Operations / Plant Manager to lead our Rochester, NY manufacturing facility. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing, you will own site performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people. The right leader brings urgency, accountability, and a consistent presence on the production floor.

You will lead day-to-day operations, build strong frontline leadership, and deliver results across core KPIs including volume, capacity, quality, safety, and on-time delivery. Success requires someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, leads through change, and brings clarity, energy, and empathy to the work.

Duties / Responsibilities

Ownership & Floor Presence

• "Acts with Ownership" by demonstrating a deep connection with staff through regular, visible engagement on the plant floor-acting as a problem-solver, mentor, and motivator.
• Takes personal accountability for achieving operational goals and fostering a culture of ownership among team members.
• Meets cost objectives for the operation; achieves productivity targets, minimizes overtime, and monitors discretionary spending.

Goal-Oriented Leadership

• Demonstrates strong leadership skills to effectively manage teams in achieving organizational objectives.
• Sets ambitious yet achievable targets for volume, capacity, quality, and delivery.
• Rigorously tracks progress, adapt strategies proactively, and relentlessly pursue continuous improvement and ensure sustainability to meet and beat all performance metrics.

Operational Excellence & Problem Solving

• Spends significant time on the operations floor addressing issues in real time, removing barriers, and helping teams improve workflows and productivity.
• Uses a data-driven approach to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Establishes and drives standard work adherence.

Quality & Service Level Agreements

• Ensures quality standards are being met to provide our customers defect-free product.
• Meets on-time delivery commitments to our customers.

Staff Development & Engagement

• Builds, develops, and retains a high-performing team by connecting deeply with staff, understanding their challenges, and fostering a collaborative environment that values their input and growth.
• Plans, assigns, and directs work; appraises performance; rewards and disciplines employees; addresses complaints and resolves problems.

Safety & Culture

• Lead safety initiatives with a personal commitment to creating a safe, incident-free workplace.
• Promote a positive, proactive safety culture through engagement and open communication.

Strategic & Tactical Alignment

• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with business goals.
• Lead regular review sessions to ensure KPI targets are met, and strategies are adjusted dynamically based on operational needs.

Productivity & Capacity Optimization

• Drive efforts to improve cycle times, reduce waste, and leverage lean principles to maximize capacity and throughput without compromising safety or quality.
• Establish and maintain staffing plans for operations to meet business objectives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with sales, marketing, engineering, supply chain, HR, and finance to align activities, optimize resource allocation, and meet customer expectations.

Benchmark & Innovate

• Continuously benchmark against best practices and incorporate innovative approaches to keep the operation at the forefront of the industry.

Required Skills / Abilities

• Bachelor's Degree in Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field; MBA a plus.
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, ideally in digital printing, book/card finishing, or high-volume print environments.
• Experience in managing P&L responsibilities.
• Proven success in leading teams through relocations, transitions, or high-growth phases.
• Strong presence on the floor with a hands-on leadership style that inspires trust and action.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and KPI-driven operations.
• Ability to coach and engage frontline staff while building a leadership pipeline.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations and best practices in workplace safety.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across all levels and functions.
• Comfortable with data, systems, and metrics to drive effective decision-making.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly.
• Ability to bend, stoop, climb, reach, and balance during routine work.
• Ability to stand, sit, and walk throughout the entire shift.

About RPI

RPI Print, headquartered in Seattle, WA, with locations across the U.S. and Europe, is dedicated to helping brands succeed through personalized, on-demand print solutions. With a global network of facilities and partners, we deliver end-to-end, integrated supply chain services that bring digital printing to life at scale and on time. Sustainability is at the core of how we operate. From responsible sourcing to reducing waste across our processes, we're committed to minimizing our environmental impact while delivering high-quality, customized products. More than just print, we're committed to building lasting relationships and delivering exceptional value to our customers!

If you believe you're a good fit for this role and share our passion for excellence, we'd love to hear from you!