Director Operations Manager Startup Jobs in Illinois

The Regional Director, Operations is responsible for driving operational excellence across a complex transportation network by creating consistency, scalability, and performance discipline throughout the organization. This role exists to ensure operational execution aligns with customer expectations, service commitments, and profitability targets while supporting the company's long-term growth strategy.
As the business continues to evolve, expand, and optimize its network footprint, this leader serves as a critical bridge between strategy and execution. The Regional Director identifies operational inefficiencies, strengthens performance standards, improves service reliability, and develops data-driven solutions that enhance both customer satisfaction and financial performance.
Success in this role means creating standardized operating practices across the network, proactively identifying performance gaps before they become business disruptions, improving operational efficiency through process optimization, and enabling the organization to achieve sustainable growth while meeting or exceeding profit objectives.
This is a highly visible leadership position requiring strong analytical capabilities, systems thinking, operational expertise, and the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions and locations.What you'll do1. Lead Network Operational Excellence

• Evaluate and continuously improve operational processes, procedures, and service standards across the regional network.
• Establish operational consistency and accountability through standardized practices and performance management frameworks.
• Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions that improve efficiency, reliability, and customer experience.
• Ensure operational execution supports company profitability, scalability, and long-term strategic objectives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to operations management teams and engineering resources across the organization.

2. Drive Performance Analytics and Business Intelligence

• Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly operational performance reports to identify trends, opportunities, and emerging risks.
• Develop actionable recommendations to address operational shortfalls and improve business performance.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive Balanced Scorecard that delivers visibility into key operational and financial metrics.
• Monitor budget performance and operational efficiency measures to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Present performance insights and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and key stakeholders.

3. Improve Service Reliability and Customer Outcomes

• Review service performance metrics and ensure service standards remain aligned with customer expectations and industry benchmarks.
• Evaluate transportation lanes and network performance to optimize transit commitments and operational efficiency.
• Implement proactive measures to prevent significant service disruptions and catastrophic service failures.
• Develop operational solutions and recommendations in response to customer requests, market changes, and business opportunities.
• Partner with sales, customer service, terminal leadership, and other cross-functional teams to strengthen customer outcomes.

4. Optimize Network Design and Capacity Strategy

• Conduct operational and financial analyses to support geographic expansion, contraction, and network optimization decisions.
• Assess freight flow patterns and develop solutions that reduce bottlenecks and improve network velocity.
• Evaluate resource allocation and operational capacity to ensure efficient movement throughout the transportation network.
• Support strategic planning initiatives by providing data-driven recommendations related to service footprint, operational investments, and market opportunities.
• Align operational capabilities with evolving customer demand and profitability objectives.

5. Lead Continuous Improvement and Process Innovation

• Utilize Six Sigma methodologies, statistical process control, flow charting, and other process improvement disciplines to drive measurable results.
• Develop and implement performance improvement programs across multiple operational functions.
• Establish best practices that improve productivity, service quality, operational consistency, and cost management.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Share knowledge, mentor team members, and strengthen organizational capabilities through leadership and coaching.

What you bring

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive operations and engineering experience within transportation, logistics, distribution, supply chain, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading operations management personnel, engineering teams, or cross-functional operational organizations.
• Proven track record driving operational performance improvements, process optimization initiatives, and business transformation efforts.

Functional Expertise

• Deep understanding of transportation operations, network management, service performance, and operational planning.
• Experience developing and implementing operational processes, procedures, and performance standards across multi-site environments.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze budgets, forecasts, profit drivers, and operational performance metrics.
• Experience evaluating network expansion, service footprint optimization, and capacity planning initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Experience developing executive-level reporting, dashboards, balanced scorecards, and performance measurement systems.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to apply statistical analysis, probability, statistical inference, ratios, percentages, and modeling techniques to operational challenges.
• Experience working with enterprise operational systems; AS/400 experience preferred.

Leadership Experience

• Experience leading, developing, coaching, and evaluating high-performing operational teams.
• Ability to effectively influence executive leadership, terminal operations, sales teams, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success leading complex initiatives across multiple departments and locations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to convey complex operational concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six Sigma certification or demonstrated experience applying Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience within less-than-truckload (LTL), freight, transportation, or logistics operations environments.
• Experience with continuous improvement, operational engineering, and network optimization disciplines.

Industry Expertise

• Strong understanding of transportation service standards, freight flow management, network performance measurement, and operational best practices.
• Knowledge of industry trends, customer expectations, and competitive operating models.

How you operate

• You think in systems, not tasks.
• You use data to drive decisions, prioritize actions, and measure outcomes.
• You balance customer experience, operational execution, and profitability.
• You identify root causes instead of treating symptoms.
• You move quickly while maintaining discipline and operational control.
• You challenge assumptions constructively and bring forward better solutions.
• You take ownership of outcomes and hold yourself accountable for results.
• You communicate clearly, confidently, and decisively across all levels of the organization.
• You thrive in complex environments where strategic thinking and hands-on execution are equally important.
• You build credibility through consistency, expertise, and follow-through.

About Roadrunner

We're not just moving freight; we're reimagining long-haul shipping. Our Smart Network offers more direct long-haul metro-to-metro routes than any other nationwide LTL carrier in the United States, with service extending into Canada and Mexico and terminals across 40+ metro markets. Powered by AI and machine learning, our operations platform ensures real-time tracking, custodial control, and full shipment visibility. With driver teams executing over-the-road (OTR) moves - and no freight moving on rail - customers experience industry-leading transit times, minimal rehandling, and dramatically reduced risk of loss or damage.

Our 900+ owner-operators benefit from scheduled freight, fewer touches by design, consistent long-haul density, and a differentiated metro-to-metro model that creates predictable earning opportunities.

This precision and performance have earned Roadrunner national recognition by over 3,000 shippers, and was ranked this year #1 in Operations, #1 in Technology, and #1 in Value in the Quest for Quality Awards, as well as honors as a Top 100 Trucking Company by Inbound Logistics and a Top Tier Service Carrier by Mastio.

We're growing fast. Roadrunner is building something special with great people, a winning culture and a differentiated service offering in the marketplace. Join us today to grow your career!

We Run Safe. We Run Smart. We Run Together.

Compensation & Setup

• Pay: $150,000 - $180,000 base salary
• Location: Hybrid work environment - Central Region
• Travel: Periodic regional travel required
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, 401(k), paid time off, and company-sponsored wellness programs

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Light physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, reach/handle items, work with the fingers, see clearly at 20 feet or more, and have depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus and talk and hear others in conversations via the phone or in person.

Work Environment

• The noise level is moderate based on general conversation tones, ringing phones, and laser printer operation. Noise level can be elevated while working performing observations in the dock operations due to freight movement by propane powered fork trucks. Works in well-lighted, heated and/or air-conditioned indoor office setting with adequate ventilation most of the time, but is subject to highly fluctuating temperatures on our non-temperature controlled dock. Can be subject to occasional wet or humid conditions (non-weather), fumes or airborne particles, extreme cold (non-weather), and outdoor weather conditions when touring agent partner operations or our company dock warehouse operations.
• Overnight travel (50%) by land and/or air required.

* The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the position and are not intended to be all inclusive. The position and any of the requirements listed above are subject to change at any time according to the changing needs of the company.

* Roadrunner is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

* We will not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters or recruiting agencies. Thank you!

#LI-HybridChicago, IL

#LI-HybridCincinnati, OH

#LI-HybridCleveland, OH

#LI-HybridDetroit, MI

#LI-HybridIndianapolis, IN

#LI-HybridLouisville, KY

#LI-HybridMilwaukee, WI

#LI-HybridSaint Paul, MN