Founded at the birth of the building automation industry in 1983 as Kele & Associates (now Kele Companies), we became the first building automation distributor to offer an all-inclusive platform. Over the next 40 years, Kele Companies has grown into a world class Building Automation Systems distributor with its headquarters remaining strategically located in Memphis, TN and branch locations positioned in 7 states throughout the U.S. Every member of the Kele Companies team plays a key role in delivering on our promise of: “We Make It Easy.”
We are currently hiring for the role of Director of Operations.
Job Title: Director of Operations
Department: Operations Administration
Reports To: Chief Supply Chain Officer
Prepared Date: May 2025
FLSA: Exempt
Pay Grade:
SUMMARY – The Director of Operations is responsible for leading the day-to-day and long-term operations of the electrical panel assembly, Kele Precision Manufacturing (KPM) and distribution facility. This role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence across manufacturing and distribution functions while driving continuous improvement, cost control, and team development. The ideal candidate brings proven leadership in an assembly-based manufacturing environment with a strong background in distribution center operations and a strategic mindset.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Strategic Leadership & Optimization
- Develop and execute long-term operational strategies aligned with company goals and market demands.
- Partner with executive leadership to drive operational innovation and scalability.
- Identify opportunities for growth, automation, and improvement across the value stream.
Manufacturing / Assembly Operations
- Oversee all aspects of electrical panel assembly, ensuring compliance with engineering standards, safety, and quality requirements.
- Implement lean manufacturing practices and production planning systems to maximize throughput and minimize waste.
- Plan and execute the launch of new manufactured products, employing structured project management techniques to manage timelines, resources, and deliverables.
Distribution Center Operations
- Manage receiving, inventory control, order fulfillment, and outbound logistics functions to ensure on-time and accurate delivery.
- Optimize warehouse layout, material handling, and shipping practices to enhance efficiency and reduce cycle times.
- Ensure all inventory and shipping systems are accurate and compliant with internal and external requirements.
- Develop and implement warehouse management and transportation strategies to improve fulfillment speed and accuracy.
- Develop and maintain relationships with freight carriers including service and rate negotiations and delivery and pickup schedules.
Operational Efficiency & Cost Management
- Develop, monitor and drive key performance indicators (KPIs) for productivity, quality, safety, and cost.
- Lead cost-reduction initiatives through improved processes, vendor negotiation, and workforce optimization.
- Delivers progress and production reports to executive team members as requested.
- Manage departmental budgets, including labor, capital expenditures, and materials.
Supplier & Vendor Management
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiate contracts and ensure supplier performance meets business needs.
- Anticipate and mitigate supply chain risks: Develop contingency plans to address potential disruptions and ensure business continuity.
- Optimize sourcing strategies to improve cost, quality, and reliability of raw materials and finished goods.
Inventory & Demand Planning
- Responsible for inventory control processes to ensure all physical locations and inventory counts are correct, stocking locations are up-to-date and properly labeled, and cycle count processes are followed.
- Reduce excess and obsolete inventory while ensuring product availability to meet customer demand.
- Utilize data analytics to improve forecasting accuracy and supply chain visibility.
Leadership & Team Development
- Build and lead a high-performing team of managers, supervisors, technicians, and support staff across assembly and distribution operations.
- Establish a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
- Provide coaching, performance evaluations, and training to support professional development.
Qualifications & Experience
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred) and / or 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Operations Management.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing or assembly operations, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
- Proven experience managing both production and distribution center operations.
- Strong background in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar operational excellence methodologies
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and cost.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with electrical or electromechanical assembly operations.
- Familiarity with ERP and WMS systems.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Directly supervises assigned team members and ensures compliance with Kele policies and applicable laws.
- Supervise and participate in the recruitment, hiring, and training of employees.
- Manage schedules and assignments for the operations.
- Handles discipline and termination of employees as needed and in accordance with company policy.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
Level 4: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and / or 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations management; Master’s degree preferred.
WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE:
Level 5: Minimum of ten years of related work experience in manufacturing or assembly operations.
COMPLEXITY OF JOB:
Level 4: Requires ability to develop and coordinate work procedures to attain results within broad guidelines; to apply established policy and practices of the occupation to the analysis and resolution of work problems independently, and to detect exceptional cases for referral and/or to visualize end results of several multi-faceted functions involving the integrated tasks of own work and the work of others subject to check and approval, often characterized by moderate to highly seasoned creative judgment.
JOB IMPACT:
Level 4: Accountable for the efficient and effective utilization of the resources of an organizational unit, and/or designing and maintaining policies to assure effectiveness; or accountability for ensuring compliance with production standards by others consistent with policy and within prescribed guidelines or for designing and maintaining, compiling, and disseminating resources or information which, if inappropriately managed, may result in loss or damage to the organization. Only administrative review of work by others.
CONTACT WITH OTHERS:
Level 4: Responsible for coordinating or influencing others within related units of the organization, to assure effective, integrated provisions of work activities, including but not limited to administrative, service, or production services; or regular contact with marketing or outside organizations or the community in situations requiring tact, persuasion and diplomacy to be resolved satisfactorily. Ability to deliver complex content with suggested solutions while presenting to company leadership.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Level 4: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to complex inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Level 4: Ability to work with mathematical concepts. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
REASONING ABILITY:
Level 4: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY:
Level 4: Advanced in Microsoft Office to include Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook. Ability to learn and use company software.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Level 2: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Manual dexterity to perform keyboarding functions is required. The employee is required to sit for long periods of time and is occasionally required to stand and walk. Required to lift up to 10 pounds. Requires close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The above description is intended to describe the general content, identify the essential functions of, and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.