Director of Operations

AP Professionals has partnered with a local creative services organization in search of a Director of Operations. The Director of Operations leads and optimizes project workflows, managing production planning and resources to ensure tradeshows and events are delivered efficiently, on time, and to the highest standard. This key leader brings a clear vision, authentic enthusiasm, uncompromising performance standards, and an unwavering commitment to the company’s success.

• Leverage existing data and identify new operational metrics to develop reports, dashboards, forecasting models, and predictive tools.
• Analyze project and production data to optimize workflows, eliminate bottlenecks, and enhance overall productivity.
• Forecast resource needs across current and upcoming project pipelines by reviewing historical data on staffing, production capacity, and vendor usage.
• Develop and maintain contingency plans to ensure production coverage during shifts in workload or resource availability.
• Serve as a core member of the Quality Team, contributing to production and vendor quality through strategic project planning.
• Define, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational success and guide continuous improvement.
• Monitor the production pipeline and assess changes in scope and timelines through data-driven analysis.
• Partner with estimating and procurement teams to determine the most efficient allocation between in-house and outsourced production.
• Collaborate with project management and client services to capture accurate planning data and inform production scheduling decisions.
• Work with project teams to improve data collection in CSI and Monday.com, supporting process enhancements and better information flow.
• Track production progress and adjust schedules as needed to meet delivery timelines.
• Continuously assess processes to identify and implement improvements in operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage relationships with external production partners, ensuring access to high-quality vendor resources.
• Analyze and report production and scheduling KPIs to support performance insights and planning.
• Support financial and budgetary planning related to production operations.

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Data Science, Business Analytics, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred

• 7–10+ years of experience in operations with a strong track record of driving organizational change through data-informed strategies

• Skilled in data sourcing, interpretation, trend analysis, and continuous process improvement
• Technically adept in relevant platforms, tools, and operational systems
• Demonstrated success in scaling data-driven workflows across growing teams or organizations
• Expertise in data-informed decision-making, with the ability to convert insights into actionable operational plans
• Decisive and calm under pressure, able to make sound judgments in high-stakes environments
• Exceptional skills in critical thinking, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving
• Strong leadership and interpersonal abilities, with experience engaging peers, senior executives, cross-functional teams, and external partners
• Proven ability to coordinate people and resources to meet time-sensitive goals
• Excels in fast-paced settings, balancing multiple priorities and projects simultaneously