Director of Operations, Exhibits, Midwest

This client is a fast-growing, execution-first team built for high-quality exhibit and event work—where ownership, urgency, and pride in craft are lived daily. The operation moves with pace and precision, collaborates closely across departments, and invests in continuous improvement as the business scales. This Director of Operations seat is for a leader who can strengthen the full operational engine setting the standard, building the rhythm, and elevating performance through people, process, and discipline. The successful candidate will lead end-to-end delivery across scheduling, warehouse/staging flow, shipping/logistics, and install/dismantle execution. That means establishing operating cadence, developing leaders, and implementing scalable systems that make performance repeatable and measurable especially during high-volume cycles. You’ll partner across Sales, Project Management, Client Services, Design, and Finance to ensure projects land on time, on budget, and at a consistent standard while continuously improving throughput, accuracy, and team capability.

Why This Role

• Own operations at the leadership level. You’re accountable for performance, systems, and the standard.

• Scale with intention. Build structure, cadence, and controls that support growth.

• Lead people and outcomes. Hire, develop, coach, and retain a team that executes with pride and consistency.

• Stay close to execution. Strategic leadership with practical presence when it matters most.

Responsibilities

• Own operational execution from project handoff through staging, shipping, install, dismantle, and return logistics

• Establish operating rhythms: daily/weekly planning, staffing plans, show calendars, and capacity forecasting

• Lead readiness planning for large programs and peak seasons

• Oversee freight planning, carrier relationships, documentation (BOLs), labeling/pack-out standards, and site delivery execution

• Implement quality controls (checklists, photo documentation, sign-offs) that support consistent delivery

• Drive field standards and site supervision practices across teams

• Lead hiring, onboarding, training, and retention for exhibit technicians and operations roles

• Develop team leads/supervisors with clear expectations, coaching cadence, and performance management

• Build a culture of accountability, craftsmanship, and teamwork where the standard is clear and supported

• Identify opportunities and implement improvements that increase throughput and reduce variability (Lean mindset a plus)

• Standardize workflows: staging, crating/labeling, inventory handling, load plans, tool control, and post-show returns

• Strengthen cross-functional handoffs to support smooth delivery

Financial & KPI Ownership

• Own operational KPIs and reporting (on-time performance, labor efficiency, freight cost, margin impacts, safety)

• Partner with Finance on budgets, overtime, travel costs, vendor spend, and cost-to-serve improvements

• Use data to guide staffing, outsourcing, and operational investments

Requirements

• Proven operations leadership experience in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments

• Experience in exhibits/events, field services, logistics, construction, manufacturing, warehouse ops,

• Strong people leadership: hiring, training, coaching, accountability, and retention

• High-ownership mindset: calm, decisive, solutions-oriented

• Excellent planning and organizational skills across multiple concurrent projects

• Strong communication and cross-functional coordination

• Comfortable operating strategically and tactically depending on business needs

• Bachelor’s degree

• Travel as needed to support major installs, train teams, and reinforce standards