Director Operations Excellence Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Are you a hands-on operations leader who enjoys being visible on the production floor and partnering with employees at all levels? Do you thrive on using data, KPIs, and continuous improvement tools to solve problems and drive measurable results? Are you energized by building strong teams while keeping safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement at the center of the operation?

If you answered yes to these questions, we should talk!

Curries (an ASSA ABLOY company) is looking for a Director of Operations. This role will be based on-site at our manufacturing facility located in Mason City, Iowa.

Come see who we are at: www.assaabloy.com

Our team is growing and there has never been a more exciting time to join us!

What would you do as our Director of Operations?

You will lead and execute a comprehensive, KPI-driven operations strategy for one of the largest hollow metal door and frame manufacturing operations in the country. In this role, you will lead functional managers and supervisors, align operations with business and financial objectives, drive operational excellence and continuous improvement, and build a high-performance culture rooted in safety, accountability, employee engagement, and customer alignment.

You would also:

• Lead and execute a KPI-driven operations strategy aligned with business objectives, financial goals, growth initiatives, and long-term capacity needs.

• Promote a strong safety-first culture while ensuring compliance with OSHA, company standards, regulatory requirements, company policies, and the ASSA ABLOY Code of Conduct.

• Own operational financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, capital planning, labor, materials, inventory, and operating expenses.

• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, root cause analysis, process optimization, standardization, automation, and year-over-year performance improvement.

• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor, engaging with teams across shifts to remove barriers, solve problems in real time, and reinforce accountability.

• Lead daily operational management systems, including Gemba walks, KPI reviews, 5S, safety engagement activities, audits, corrective actions, and performance metrics.

• Oversee end-to-end production and logistics flow, including capacity planning, production scheduling, inventory management, distribution, warehouse operations, freight strategies, and service-level performance.

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing operations leadership team while partnering with HR on workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, organizational design, employee relations, and performance management.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with customer service, order management, engineering, quality, supply chain, commercial teams, and other Door Group locations to support customer expectations, sales objectives, and network-wide best practices.

• Perform special assignments and projects as assigned.

• Actively participate in providing a safe and harmonious working environment for all employees.

The Skills and Experience you need:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field required; Master's Degree preferred.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive operational leadership experience with proven results delivered through teams.

• Manufacturing leadership experience with strong business and financial acumen, including P&L, cost control, productivity, budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning.

• Proven ability to drive KPI performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.

• Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, process optimization, and advancing manufacturing technologies.

• Strong understanding of OSHA, state/federal regulations, company standards, and regulatory compliance.

• Experience with capacity planning, production scheduling, workforce planning, logistics, inventory management, and operations systems.

• Leadership presence with the ability to coach, develop, influence, and build accountable, high-performing teams.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, presentation, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

• High level of comfort and passion for being present on the production floor across all shifts, including weekends and off-hours as needed.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), AI, Business Objects, and other business systems.

• Must live in or relocate within three months to the Mason City, IA area.

• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

What we offer!

We believe in creating opportunities and providing benefits that empower you to grow, thrive, and build a rewarding lifelong career with us. Here is just a sample of what you can look forward to as a member of our team:

• Competitive Salary

• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and paid Company Holidays 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-term Disability, Life and AD&D Insurance

• 401(k) Program with company contributions

• Tuition Reimbursement, Learning and Career Development opportunities

• Flexible Spending

• Employee Assistance Program

• Gym reimbursement

• On-site Health Clinic

• Discount portal

• Recognition, well-being, and employee experience programs designed to support and celebrate you throughout your career

We review applications regularly, so don't wait

We are building diverse, inclusive teams, and encourage applications from everyone who can see themselves working with us.

To make sure your personal data is safe, we don't look at any applications sent by email or post.

If you have any questions about the role or the process, email Stephanie Mandato, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Stephanie.mandato@assaabloy.com

Let's create a safer and more open world - together!

AADG, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veteran

#LI-SM1

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces - physical and virtual - safer, more secure, and easier to access. 

As an employer, we value results - not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions - supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.

As we welcome new people on board, it's important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.