Production Strategy & Operations Director at JHB Group, Inc · Richmond

Position Overview

JHB Group, Inc. is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and forward-thinking Production Strategy & Operations Director to lead production planning, operational coordination, process development, and efficiency improvements within our specialty vehicle and trailer manufacturing facility.

Successful production starts before the work begins—with planning, preparation, organization, and communication. This leadership role focuses on creating the systems, schedules, workflows, and accountability that help teams execute complex custom manufacturing projects consistently and efficiently. Manufacturing experience is a strong advantage, but exceptional organizational and operational leadership skills are the priority.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain master production schedules across multiple custom projects.

• Translate project requirements and delivery commitments into actionable daily, weekly, and long-term plans.

• Coordinate labor, materials, equipment, and other resources to support production priorities.

• Anticipate scheduling conflicts, capacity limitations, and bottlenecks before they affect deadlines.

• Monitor milestones and adjust plans proactively as project requirements change.

Operational Organization & Preparation

• Ensure drawings, work instructions, tools, equipment, and materials are ready before work begins.

• Coordinate with purchasing, inventory, engineering, and production to confirm project readiness.

• Create clear systems for tracking tasks, outstanding issues, and production status.

• Improve material staging, work-area organization, and shop readiness.

• Reduce downtime caused by missing parts, unclear instructions, and inadequate preparation.

Process Development & Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate workflows and implement practical improvements to productivity and consistency.

• Develop, document, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Establish repeatable processes and performance-tracking systems across departments.

• Identify root causes of recurring delays, rework, and wasted labor; implement lasting solutions.

• Promote continuous improvement, operational discipline, and accountability.

Production Execution & Coordination

• Coordinate fabrication, welding, electrical, carpentry, cabinetry, assembly, and finishing activities.

• Align work assignments with production schedules and available resources.

• Facilitate timely communication and handoffs between departments.• Identify and resolve production constraints through planning and cross-functional coordination.

• Maintain accurate visibility into progress, priorities, and upcoming requirements.

Leadership, Communication & Accountability

• Set clear expectations and priorities for production personnel and department leaders.

• Lead concise daily production meetings and weekly planning reviews.

• Hold teams accountable for schedules, productivity, quality, safety, and procedures.

• Support training, staffing coordination, and constructive performance feedback.

• Model professionalism, organization, ownership, and follow-through.

Quality & Operational Performance

• Coordinate quality checkpoints and confirm work aligns with drawings and project specifications.

• Identify recurring workmanship issues and establish corrective processes.

• Track schedule adherence, labor utilization, milestones, and production performance.

• Provide management with accurate reporting on progress, risks, and resource needs.

• Establish measurable operational goals and evaluate results.

Required Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Strong strategic planning, scheduling, prioritization, and project coordination abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a changing environment.

• Proactive approach to anticipating needs and preventing problems.

• Demonstrated ability to implement processes, communicate expectations, and drive follow-through.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency with spreadsheets, scheduling tools, and operational tracking systems.

• Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.

Preferred Experience

• Five or more years in operations management, production planning, project management, manufacturing, or a related

field.

• Experience coordinating teams and departments, developing SOPs, or improving workflows.

• Background in manufacturing, fabrication, automotive, specialty vehicles, or custom assembly.

• Familiarity with bills of materials, inventory, resource planning, and production drawings.

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, or other continuous improvement practices.

Manufacturing experience is preferred, not required. Candidates from operations, logistics, or project planning

backgrounds with outstanding organizational and leadership capabilities are encouraged to apply.

What Success Looks Like

• Realistic schedules, clear project milestones, and well-defined responsibilities.

• People, parts, drawings, tools, and instructions ready before each production phase begins.• Fewer avoidable delays, bottlenecks, rework cycles, and interruptions.

• Documented processes that are consistently followed and improved.

• Clear cross-department communication and accurate management visibility.

• A more predictable, efficient, organized, and scalable production operation.

The Ideal Candidate

You naturally bring structure to complex environments. You enjoy organizing people and resources, creating effective systems, and thinking several steps ahead. You take ownership, follow through, and understand that successful execution depends on having the right Plan. Parts. People. in place before work begins. You are motivated not merely to keep production moving, but to make it work better every day.

About JHB Group

JHB Group, Inc. designs and manufactures custom mobile solutions for public safety, emergency management, government, military, and commercial customers. Our products include mobile command centers, emergency response vehicles, specialty trailers, and training simulators. In-house capabilities span engineering, metal fabrication, welding, carpentry, cabinetry, electrical systems, networking, graphics, finishing, and final assembly.

Why Join JHB Group?

This role offers the opportunity to shape how a specialty manufacturing operation plans, organizes, measures, and executes its work. We seek a leader who wants to build effective systems, implement improvements, and contribute directly to long-term success.

If you are a strategic thinker, exceptional organizer, and results-driven leader who believes planning and preparation are the foundation of successful operations, we encourage you to apply.

Pay: $74,000.00 - $84,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person