Chief Operations Officer (Relocation Offered)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the operational performance, delivery excellence, and overall efficiency of United Direct Solutions (UDS). This executive leader ensures that daily operationsincluding production, fulfillment, logistics, client service delivery, and cross-site coordinationare aligned with the company's strategic goals and growth objectives. The role includes overseeing process optimization, resource allocation, performance management, and operational scalability, while leading a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence. The COO identifies and mitigates operational risks, implements best practices, and ensures operational readiness to support business growth, market expansion, and client satisfaction. The COO serves as a key partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, driving operational discipline, continuous improvement, and high-quality client outcomes.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the day-to-day operations of United Direct Solutions (UDS) to ensure operational excellence, client satisfaction, and alignment with the company's strategic goals. The COO provides leadership across production, fulfillment, logistics, and client delivery teams, driving efficiency, quality, and scalability across all sites. This role partners closely with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and cross-functional departments to support business growth, operational readiness, and high-performance outcomes.

• Lead day-to-day operations, including print production, mail fulfillment, facilities, logistics, and client delivery teams, ensuring consistent execution and high-quality outcomes
• Implement scalable processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and best practices to ensure operational consistency, efficiency, and client satisfaction across all departments and sites
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in efficiency, quality, labor optimization, turnaround time, and cost management
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant execution of jobs and programs in partnership with Client Services
• Oversee capacity planning, scheduling, and equipment utilization across sites to meet client deadlines, margin goals, and operational targets
• Monitor and improve operational KPIs, including on-time delivery, labor efficiency, waste reduction, downtime, and quality metrics
• Champion cross-site standardization, operational alignment, and collaboration between Louisville and Cincinnati locations
• Collaborate with Finance on production costing, margin improvement, capital investments, and budget adherence
• Partner with the CIO and Strategy teams to evaluate, pilot, and implement automation, technology enhancements, and digital workflow solutions
• Provide clear expectations, leadership guidance, and professional development for department heads, site leaders, and supervisors
• Partner with Human Resources to recruit, train, and retain a productive, safety-focused, and accountable frontline workforce
• Maintain a safe and compliant working environment, ensuring proper documentation, audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and incident prevention
• Participate in executive-level planning sessions to align operations with strategic goals, growth plans, and client requirements
• Report operational performance, capacity, and key metrics to the CEO, contributing to executive-level decision-making and business strategy
• Foster a culture of accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and client-centric performance across all teams
• Perform other duties as assigned to support operational and organizational objectives

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-Time Delivery (%) Percentage of jobs completed and delivered according to client deadlines
• % of Jobs Delivered Without Rework or Complaint Measure of quality and client satisfaction
• Equipment Utilization (%) Efficiency of machinery and equipment usage across sites
• Cost per Job / Cost per 1,000 Pieces Operational cost efficiency and margin management
• OSHA Incidents and Safety Compliance Track safety performance, incident reporting, and regulatory compliance
• Cross-Site Performance Consistency Measure standardization and alignment of operations across multiple locations
• Labor Efficiency / Productivity Metrics Output per employee or per team to ensure optimal staffing and performance
• Waste and Scrap Reduction Percentage of materials or production lost due to inefficiency or errors
• Capacity Utilization Degree to which operational capacity is effectively deployed to meet client demand
• Client Escalation Rate Number of operational issues escalated by clients as a percentage of total jobs
• Process Improvement Implementation Rate Number and impact of efficiency or process improvement initiatives implemented
• Operational Budget Adherence Monitoring actual costs versus budgeted expenditures across operations

Qualifications

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) must be a highly strategic, results-oriented, and operationally driven executive with a proven ability to lead multi-site operations, drive efficiency, and deliver high-quality client outcomes. The ideal candidate combines operational expertise, business acumen, and executive leadership skills to scale operations, optimize processes, and foster a culture of accountability and excellence. Key qualifications include:

• Highly motivated and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with executive leadership and cross-functional teams
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced environment
• Proven track record of delivering performance improvements across operations, processes, and people
• Experience leading multi-site operations, including production, fulfillment, logistics, and client service, in highly deadline-driven environments
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong business acumen, execution discipline, and problem-solving capabilities
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills, including the ability to convey complex operational information to diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated success in strategy execution, operational planning, and cross-functional project leadership
• Proven ability to drive measurable business outcomes through strategic change, process optimization, and operational efficiency
• Expertise in people leadership, team development, and coaching, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Experience managing operational budgets, capital investments, and financial performance metrics
• Track record of driving growth, leading change initiatives, and scaling operations in alignment with strategic goals
• Professional image, high emotional intelligence, and ability to influence and inspire teams across all levels of the organization
• Strong interpersonal and organizational leadership skills, with the ability to build alignment and collaboration across multiple departments and locations
• Knowledge of industry best practices, operational metrics, and regulatory compliance standards relevant to print, mailing, fulfillment, or service operations

Education and Experience

A bachelor's degree in operations management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field is preferred; equivalent combinations of education and relevant professional experience will also be considered. The Chief Operating Officer should have a minimum of ten years of progressive experience in manufacturing, print/mail, fulfillment, or service operations, including at least five years in a senior leadership role. The role requires a proven track record of driving operational excellence, process improvement, and high-performance outcomes. Candidates should demonstrate experience leading cross-functional teams, manage multi-site operations, and implement scalable systems and processes to support organizational growth and client satisfaction.

Language Skills The COO must possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to read, analyze, and interpret operational reports, contracts, technical documents, and performance data. The role requires the ability to prepare clear, concise, and professional reports, operational summaries, and presentations, and to communicate complex operational information effectively to the CEO, executive leadership, department heads, and operational teams. Confidence and professionalism in facilitating meetings, delivering briefings, and providing guidance across the organization are essential.

Mathematical Skills The COO must have strong quantitative and analytical skills to interpret operational metrics, financial performance data, and productivity reports. The role requires the ability to analyze budgets, forecasts, capacity utilization, efficiency ratios, and process performance metrics to optimize operational decision-making and ensure alignment with strategic goals.

Reasoning Ability The COO must possess advanced analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to evaluate operational performance, production processes, and client service delivery. The role requires the ability to identify operational inefficiencies, prioritize initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and make informed decisions that drive organizational performance, scalability, and high-quality client outcomes.

Physical Demands The COO is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear, and must use hands and fingers to operate standard office equipment, computers, and mobile devices. The role may require occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of items weighing up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional bending, reaching, or stooping may be necessary. The position may involve travel to company locations, client sites,