Sr. Director, Operations - Industrial Solutions

ALKEGEN • Buffalo, NY

1d

About The Position

Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. With over 60 manufacturing facilities and a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways. The Sr. Director, Operations - Industrial Solutions will lead global operations across Alkegen Industrial Solutions’ diversified specialty materials portfolio with approximately $700M in revenue, driving operational excellence, safety, quality, supply chain resilience, manufacturing performance, and customer fulfilment. This executive will scale transformative innovation into robust, reliable production, ensuring Alkegen Industrial Solutions’ advanced materials reach customers with industry-leading quality, speed, and cost competitiveness.

Requirements

• 15+ years progressive leadership in industrial manufacturing, advanced materials, chemicals, or related sectors; multi-site/global operations experience required.
• Prior executive level experience as COO, VP of Operations, Supply Chain, or Quality supporting multi-site and global manufacturing company.
• Proven track record scaling new materials or process technologies into high-volume, high-quality production.
• Expertise in Lean/Operational Excellence, S&OP, quality systems, and CAPEX project execution.
• Experience supporting diversified end markets (e.g., energy storage, automotive, industrial, construction) and complex product portfolios
• Strong EHS leadership and sustainability orientation aligned with energy savings, pollution reduction, and fire safety outcomes
• Exceptional cross-functional collaboration, talent development, and change management skills.
• Engineering or technical degree preferred; MBA or advanced degree a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead global operations across manufacturing, supply chain (S&OP, planning, procurement, logistics), quality, and EH&S to ensure safe, high quality, on-time, and cost competitive delivery.
• Deploy Lean/OpEx and KPI management (SQDC) to improve OEE, yield, throughput, and delivery; own budgets and P&L levers (conversion cost, productivity, scrap, freight, inventory) to expand margins and optimize cash flow.
• Build, mentor, and retain a high performing global team fostering a safety first, data driven, accountable culture and strong cross functional collaboration.
• Develop the Annual Operating Plan, execute against targets, and report performance, risks, and mitigations to the Executive suite and Board of Directors.
• Establish and execute multi-year operations strategy; optimize global footprint and asset utilization; prioritize and deploy CAPEX for capacity, technology, automation, safety, and environmental improvements, delivering on time and at/above ROI targets.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive