Director of Operations

Company DescriptionAmbit Chemical Technologies is a specialty chemical manufacturer and toll blender headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, strategically positioned near key port and logistics operations. We serve customers across industries including water treatment, oil and gas, pulp and paper, industrial manufacturing, and related markets that require reliable, high-quality, custom chemical solutions.Our team combines technical expertise, operational discipline, and a customer-first mindset to deliver safe, efficient, and scalable chemical manufacturing services. We are committed to quality, regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, employee safety, and continuous improvement. As Ambit continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced operations leader who can strengthen plant performance, develop high-performing teams, and help guide the company through its next stage of expansion.Role OverviewAmbit Chemical Technologies is seeking a Director of Operations to lead day-to-day manufacturing, blending, logistics, safety, quality, maintenance, and operational execution at our Gulfport facility. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for ensuring that our operations run safely, efficiently, profitably, and in alignment with customer commitments and company objectives.The ideal candidate is a disciplined operator, strong people leader, and strategic problem-solver with experience in chemical manufacturing, industrial production, toll blending, process manufacturing, or a closely related environment. This person will be expected to drive operational excellence, improve systems and processes, build accountability across teams, and support sustainable growth.Key ResponsibilitiesLead daily operations across production, blending, packaging, warehousing, logistics, maintenance, and facility support functions.Ensure all operations are performed safely and in compliance with company policies, OSHA standards, environmental regulations, quality requirements, and applicable chemical handling procedures.Develop and execute operational strategies that improve productivity, throughput, quality, cost control, reliability, and customer satisfaction.Build, mentor, and manage high-performing teams, including supervisors, operators, technicians, and support personnel.Establish clear performance expectations, accountability systems, KPIs, and reporting structures across operational departments.Analyze production data, labor utilization, downtime, yield, inventory flow, customer requirements, and cost drivers to identify and implement improvements.Partner with executive leadership to support business planning, capital projects, capacity planning, workforce planning, and long-term growth initiatives.Manage operational budgets, control expenses, evaluate resource allocation, and identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve margin.Collaborate with sales, customer service, quality, procurement, logistics, finance, and technical teams to ensure customer requirements are met accurately and on time.Support quality systems, batch documentation, process controls, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.Oversee facility readiness, preventive maintenance programs, equipment reliability, vendor coordination, and production scheduling support.Promote a strong safety culture through visible leadership, training, incident prevention, hazard identification, and corrective action follow-through.Lead operational problem-solving during production issues, customer escalations, supply chain disruptions, staffing challenges, or equipment constraints.Develop scalable systems and procedures that support growth, consistency, compliance, and operational discipline.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.MBA, advanced technical degree, or equivalent senior leadership experience is a plus.7+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in manufacturing, chemicals, toll blending, industrial production, logistics, or a related environment.Experience in chemical manufacturing, specialty chemicals, liquid blending, batch production, hazardous materials handling, or regulated industrial operations is strongly preferred.Proven ability to lead teams, develop supervisors, improve accountability, and build a strong operational culture.Strong knowledge of safety, quality, compliance, production planning, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement practices.Demonstrated experience managing budgets, controlling costs, improving margins, and aligning resources with business priorities.Strong analytical skills with the ability to use operational data to identify issues, measure performance, and implement practical improvements.Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.Ability to work effectively under pressure, make sound decisions, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced industrial environment.Strong customer service mindset with a commitment to reliability, responsiveness, and execution excellence.Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational reporting tools; experience with ERP, inventory, production, or quality management systems is a plus.Ideal Candidate ProfileThe successful candidate will be a hands-on, results-driven operations leader who is comfortable working at both the strategic and floor-level execution levels. This individual should bring structure, urgency, professionalism, and practical problem-solving to the organization while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, quality, and people development.We are looking for someone who can improve what is already working, identify what needs to change, and lead teams through execution with clarity and accountability.What We OfferSenior leadership role with direct impact on company performance and growth.Opportunity to help shape operational systems, culture, and long-term strategy.Collaborative team environment with a strong focus on safety, quality, and customer service.Competitive compensation based on experience.Benefits package to be discussed during the hiring process.Work LocationThis is a full-time, on-site position based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to or relocate near the Gulfport area.Equal Opportunity StatementAmbit Chemical Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. We value a safe, respectful, and professional workplace and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.How to ApplyQualified candidates are encouraged to apply through LinkedIn with an updated resume. Candidates selected for consideration will be contacted regarding next steps in the interview process.