Operations Director

ITW · Olathe, KS

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Level: Director+
Team: Production
Base pay: $143k–$238k
Travel: 50%
Degree: Preferred
Experience asked: 10+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: Recently

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level production role at ITW (industrial) in Olathe, KS.

They ask for: 10+ years · degree preferred
Tools it names: Lean, FDA / GMP, EHS / safety
Base pay: $143k–$238k
Day to day: about 50% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Production Engineer roles in Kansas: typical posted base $93k–$154k. This one lists $143k–$238k.

Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 15 production engineer openings in Kansas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Kansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 14 other live production postings in Kansas.

Experience asked: More than usual (10+ vs 4+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Team leadership 67%
✓ EHS / safety 40%
✓ Lean 40%
✓ FDA / GMP 33%
Six Sigma 27%
SAP 20%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 10+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at ITW
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from ITWAs posted on their careers site.Show

Position Summary

The Director of Operations provides overall direction, strategy, and planning for the division's manufacturing facilities. The Director of Operations, in partnership with the Plant Managers, will have overall responsibility for manufacturing operations at each facility to include manufacturing, shipping/receiving, quality, regulatory, EHS, maintenance, engineering, strategic sourcing and customer service.

Core

Responsibilities

◆Develop team members through coaching, feedback, and performance reviews
◆Promote a strong culture of quality, safety, and environmental compliance
◆Set strategic direction to improve profitability, productivity, and efficiency
◆Define site goals and ensure effective use of resources
◆Build and execute functional strategies and annual plans with site and EHS leaders
◆Partner across teams on innovation and new product development
◆Drive continuous improvement using established tools and practices by championing ITW toolbox initiatives for manufacturing operations.
◆Direct and report on performance against operational metrics: Safety/Cost/ Quality
◆Lead global sourcing efforts to meet division goals
◆Ensure operations meet customer and company quality standards
◆Drive strong customer service performance
◆Oversee major capital projects across facilities
◆Coordinate cross-functional teams for efficient product launches and updates
◆Partner with HR to build culture and support ITW values
◆Encourage communication and collaboration across teams and sites
◆Other duties as assigned.
◆Travel: 30-50% for facility visits.

Qualifications

Requirements

✓10+ years of manufacturing management experience with proven leadership success
✓Bachelor's degree in a technical field (Mechanical Engineering preferred)
✓Strong knowledge of project management tools and methods
✓Experience managing a full-scale manufacturing operation (formulation to shipping)
✓Familiar with ERP systems, GMP, EHS, regulatory and quality standards
✓Knowledge of inventory management, sourcing, and lean manufacturing
✓Experience overseeing multiple manufacturing sites
✓Skilled in process control, lean practices, and change management
✓Solid understanding of quality systems and customer service practices
✓Strong communication and collaboration skills; able to influence at all levels
✓Proven ability to build teams, develop talent, and manage performance
✓Effective leader who drives results through others
✓Strategic thinker with strong attention to detail
✓Self-directed and able to work independently
✓Strong work ethic

Show full description ↓

Job Description

Company Overview

The ITW Fluids North America Division is a manufacturer of lubricants, cleaning chemicals, and corrosion preventatives formulated to maximize equipment productivity and product quality for customers. ITW Fluids Division includes five facilities in the United States and is a division of Illinois Tool Works, a Fortune 150 company. We go to market through B2B with a focus on the automotive, aviation, fabricated metal, food processing and machinery manufacturing market segments. Offering a brand portfolio that is well recognized within these industrial channels, our premium products address customer pain points and our direct sales team provide expert value-added consulting at the customer level. ITW Pro Brands has 250 employees and 4 manufacturing facilities in: Olathe, KS, Tucker, GA, Easton, MD, and DeWitt, IA.

Our Values

•Simplicity : focusing on the essential core of each business opportunity, guided by the "80/20" rule to streamline processes, systems and structures.
•Shared risk : collaborating as a team, taking joint responsibility, and learning from trial and error to drive innovation.
•Integrity : honesty, transparency, and doing the right thing in all business dealings, regardless of brand and location.
•Respect : valuing diversity in cultural backgrounds and fostering an open environment where innovation can thrive.
•Trust : relying on employees to uphold the highest professional standards and act in the company's best interests.

What We Offer

ITW's benefits package is designed to provide comprehensive support for physical, mental, and financial well-being including healthcare, retirement planning, paid leave, wellness programs, and opportunities for charitable involvement.