Director of Operations

About Us

American Trade Group, Inc. is a diversified organization supporting the construction and building industries through a portfolio of companies that includes American Lumber, a leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor; Lane One Transport, a transportation and logistics company; and Rafter 12 Custom Homes.

Founded in 1986, American Lumber has been recognized as an Aggie 100 company, honoring the fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by Texas A&M University alumni.

At American Lumber, our mission—We Cut Through Challenges so You Can Focus on Success—guides the work we do every day. Driven by our vision to Build a Stronger America, One Solution at a Time, we uphold our core values of Service, Innovation, and Partnership in everything we do.

The Role

American Lumber is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership for our Remanufacturing Plants. This leader will translate company and manufacturing priorities into measurable results across safety, people, quality, service, cost, and growth.

The Director of Operations will lead the Plant Manager and other operations leaders while aligning Production, Shipping/Receiving, Maintenance, and supporting functions as one coordinated team. Working closely with the VP of Manufacturing and cross-functional leaders, this role will strengthen plant capacity, equipment reliability, financial performance, leadership capability, and long-term readiness.

What You’ll Do

• Translate company and manufacturing priorities into multi-year and annual operating plans, plant objectives, and clear performance expectations.
• Establish and monitor plant-level KPIs for safety, throughput, yield, quality, on-time service, downtime, labor efficiency, inventory, and cost.
• Lead, coach, and hold the Plant Manager and other operations leaders accountable while strengthening leadership capability throughout the plant.
• Champion a Safety First culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental requirements, internal standards, and effective corrective-action practices.
• Lead structured performance reviews, remove cross-functional barriers, and sponsor continuous-improvement initiatives that increase capacity, reduce waste, and improve flow.
• Develop operating and capital budgets, forecasts, and resource plans; monitor variances and ensure timely recovery actions.
• Build business cases for capital investments, staffing changes, technology, reliability improvements, and capacity expansion using risk-and-return analysis.
• Oversee equipment and facility reliability strategy, preventive maintenance effectiveness, critical infrastructure, vendors, contractors, and capital projects.
• Ensure quality systems meet product specifications and customer requirements, with strong root-cause analysis and sustainable corrective action.
• Partner with Sales, Scheduling, Purchasing, Logistics, Human Resources, Accounting, and Information Technology to anticipate constraints and improve end-to-end execution.
• Build succession, development, and cross-training plans for critical salaried and hourly roles while reinforcing accountability, partnership, trust, learning, and respect.
• Provide concise reporting and recommendations to the VP of Manufacturing regarding plant performance, forecasts, risks, opportunities, and required decisions.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of core plant operations and provide informed leadership continuity during emergencies, transitions, and other periods requiring elevated support.

Who You Are

Leadership Experience

• Seven or more years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing or industrial operations, including responsibility for managers or multiple plant functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading safety, production, quality, maintenance, shipping/receiving, workforce, budgeting, and performance-improvement activities.
• A proven record of developing leaders, building succession plans, managing change, and strengthening organizational accountability.
• Experience planning and executing capital projects, reliability improvements, or capacity expansions.

Skills & Qualifications

• Able to use operational and financial data to set priorities, solve problems, and communicate clear decisions.
• Strategic and hands-on, with the judgment to stay connected to plant-floor conditions while leading at an enterprise level.
• Strong communicator who can align teams, address risk promptly, and build effective partnerships across functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience in lumber, wood products, remanufacturing, or a related process-manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Comfortable using Microsoft 365, operational dashboards, reporting tools, and manufacturing systems to manage performance.
  

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• A high-impact leadership role with the opportunity to shape plant performance, culture, capability, and future growth.
• Direct partnership with the VP of Manufacturing and collaboration with leaders across the American Trade Group organization.
• A values-driven environment centered on Service, Innovation, Partnership, and a genuine commitment to safety.
• Opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and meaningful operational improvement.
• Company-provided personal protective equipment for required plant activities.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

• 401(k) with company match
• Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Paid vacation

Ready to Apply?

If you are a strategic manufacturing leader who knows how to turn priorities into results, develop strong teams, and build sustainable operating systems, we encourage you to apply!