Director of Operations

Life Line Emergency vehicles is celebrating 40 years of producing the high quality, custom made ambulance in the market. Born in Sumner, Iowa we are proud of to be American made and Iowa made. At Life Line all of our employees are employee owners and have a "License to Act" We are looking for a transformational and visionary leader to drive the next generation of growth, strategy and structure for Life Line.

The Director of Operations is a pivotal leader and change agent ensuring exceptional quality, optimizing efficiency, championing safety and spearheading revenue growth. The Director is instrumental in driving continuous improvements in operational processes and delivering innovative solutions that consistently surpass customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning & Execution
  • Develop and implement short- and long-term operational strategies in partnership with senior leadership.
  • Ensure strategies achieve measurable outcomes in a cost-effective and timely manner.
• Operational Leadership:
  • Ensure efficient and successful operations while achieving key performance metrics.
  • Drive the thorough execution of business initiatives.
• Team Leadership
  • Lead a mentor teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation and excellence.
  • Provide coaching, performance management, and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Operational Excellence
  • Leads continuous improvement initiatives and executions.
  • Leads process and systems optimization to achieve world class performance.
• Financial & Resource Management
  • Ensures compliance with safety and environmental policies while fostering a culture of sustainability.
  • Manage operating budgets, including labor and general expenses, ensuring targets are met.
  • Monitor and adjust activities to optimize financial performance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field. MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with a strong track record of progressive leadership in operations and achieving business objectives.
• Custom manufacturing experience a plus.
• Manufacturing line optimization, lean environment.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to drive growth, identify new market opportunities, and build scalable operational frameworks in dynamic business environments.
• Proven experience in P&L management and driving financial performance.
• Strong leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• Experience leading initiatives using Lean or other continuous improvement methodologies to drive operational efficiency.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.