Link to apply listed at the bottom of this Job Description. Only applications submitted through this link will be considered.
WHO WE ARE
Valutek is a cleanroom consumables manufacturer and distributor based in Phoenix, Arizona, with three decades of history serving customers who depend on precision, consistency, and quality. We supply the gloves, wipes, garments, and contamination-control products that keep critical environments running, and we have built our reputation on doing that reliably for thirty eight years.
We are now entering a defining chapter. A new headquarters is under development in the central Phoenix corridor adjacent to the airport/ downtown. Our leadership is stepping into a more strategic and growth-focused posture, and we are building the operational foundation to carry the business into its next era of scale.
Our Core Values are:
- EVERY TOUCH REFLECTS REAL EXPERTISE: We are a team built around cleanroom science — with hands-on experience across semiconductor fabs, medical device manufacturing lines, and aerospace production environments.Every product is validated in-house with technical testing and custom evaluation capabilities, and our rigorous quality compliance program reflects what we've already proven to be true
- EVERY TOUCH IS A TEAM EFFORT: We are a small, focused team — which means every person's work directly shapes the customer experience. There's no layer between what you do and what the customer receives. Regardless of role and department, our full team is committed to enhancing the customer and distributor experience
- EVERY TOUCH SERVES CUSTOMERS WHO DEPEND ON US: Valutek serves two equally important customer groups: cleanroom operators who depend on our products to protect their environments, and channel partners who depend on us as cleanroom experts to help support and grow their accounts. Both receive the same level of intentional care, responsiveness, and expertise. More than 99% of business comes from repeat customers--that number is the sum of every order fulfilled accurately, every question answered timely, and every product that performed as promised.
We are looking for someone who genuinely connects with our mission and the way we operate. This alignment matters as much to us as experience.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Valutek team is seeking a results-driven and detail-oriented Director of Operations with a proven track record in physical product operations, warehousing, distribution, or manufacturing environments. This is the role that builds the management layer between leadership and our operations team, and it carries full ownership of the day-to-day execution that keeps the business running smoothly.
The Director of Operations will become the primary point of accountability for warehouse operations, facilities, team performance, vendor relationships, production scheduling, and site management. The goal is a clean and complete handoff of operational ownership, freeing our leadership to focus on the commercial growth that drives the business forward. The application code word is PRECISION.
This role will lead Valutek through a chapter of rapid growth and transition, in close partnership with the president. You will be a steady, hands-on operator who brings structure, accountability, and visibility to a business that has run on relationships and instinct, and who does so while honoring the culture that has made Valutek what it is.
This is a full-time, on-site position in the Phoenix, Arizona area. No remote or hybrid arrangements are available. Given the critical nature of this role, we host a rigorous, 4-part application process to ensure the right fit.
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE UNIQUE
You will be stepping into a business at an inflection point. A new headquarters is underway, and you will lead that transition from your first day, owning facilities coordination, team logistics, layout, and go-live readiness. At the same time, you will build the operational infrastructure the business has never had: the SOPs, the KPI frameworks, the scorecards, and the reporting cadences that turn a relationship-run operation into a professionally operated one.
This is foundational work. You are not inheriting systems to maintain. You are building the first ones, and you will have the autonomy and the mandate to do it well.
RESPONSIBILITIES (TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROLE):
- Absorb full day-to-day operational ownership across warehouse operations, facilities, team management, vendor relationships, production scheduling, and site management
- Lead the transition into the new headquarters near the Phoenix freeway and airport corridor, owning facilities coordination, team logistics, layout, and go-live readiness
- Build the operational KPI framework from the ground up, defining metrics like inventory turns, freight factor, fill rates, pick times, and budget adherence, and creating the weekly reporting cadence that gives leadership real visibility
- Stabilize and develop the warehouse team, including onboarding and coaching a newly elevated warehouse manager and holding the team accountable to clear standards
- Drive SOP development and documentation across warehouse, cleanroom, production, and shipping, using ISO 9001 as the disciplining structure for documentation
- Lead the migration of the cleanroom production process from manual paperwork into the ERP system, assessing, documenting, and driving the transition
- Build the management infrastructure the business needs, including job scorecards for all operational roles, operational cadence meetings, and the accountability structure to support them
REQUIREMENTS (EXPECTED PROFICIENCIES):
Experience (Non-Negotiable)
- Proven track record in physical product operations within a warehousing, distribution, supply chain, inventory management, production, or facilities environment, ideally supporting a business at or growing toward $15M or more
- Experience helping a family-run or founder-led business transition from relationship-based management to professionally operated systems, while protecting the culture through that shift
- A history of building operational infrastructure from scratch, including SOPs, KPI frameworks, job scorecards, and reporting cadences in a business that had none
- Site or general management experience, having owned everything that happens at a physical location, including staffing gaps, facilities issues, equipment failures, and vendor escalations
- Facilities relocation or new-site activation experience is a strong plus
Core Competencies
- Fluency in inventory and supply chain management, including inventory turns, days on hand, fill rates, and freight factor, with a strong instinct for where cash is trapped in operations
- The ability to design an operational scorecard from scratch, defining the right metrics, setting targets, building visibility systems, and holding the team accountable week over week
- Direct people management experience, including hiring, coaching, managing performance, and making difficult personnel decisions
- Financial literacy and comfort reading a P&L, making decisions with margin and cost in mind as a default instinct
- Systems thinking and openness to technology, with the ability to assess manual workflows and drive automation and ERP adoption. SysPro or comparable ERP experience is valued, and ISO 9001 or similar quality framework experience is a meaningful plus
Critical Soft Skills (Deal-Breakers)
- A servant leadership instinct, showing up to make the team's work easier rather than to assert authority
- A high moral compass and a transparent working style, proactively communicating what you are working on, where you are stuck, and what you are seeing
- The ability to hold a warm, close-knit team to standards and consequences with confidence and emotional intelligence, while keeping the culture intact
- A business owner mindset that treats the operational function as your own, protecting margin and prioritizing without waiting to be told
- The capacity to thrive in a fast-moving, high-standards environment, bringing structure and clarity rather than adding to the noise
Technical Requirements
- Exceptional attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills
- A self-starter who manages priorities and deadlines with minimal supervision
- A data-driven decision maker who analyzes information and acts on it
- Highly resourceful, with a natural aptitude for learning new tools and systems
- Candid and direct communicator with strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in English
- Able to work on-site in the Phoenix, Chandler, Arizona area
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- First 30 days: You have absorbed the day-to-day operational ownership that previously sat with the president, built relationships across the team, and developed a clear picture of the current state of operations, systems, and the new HQ timeline.
- 60 days: The new headquarters transition is on track under your ownership, the first operational KPIs are defined, and you have established the cadence of operational meetings and reporting.
- 90 days: Job scorecards are in place for operational roles, the warehouse manager transition is supported and stabilized, and SOP development is underway across warehouse, cleanroom, production, and shipping.
- 6 months: The president has stepped fully out of day-to-day operations, the operational scorecard is running the business week over week, and the cleanroom production migration into the ERP is underway with a clear plan to completion.
BENEFITS
- Base salary range of $120,000 to $160,000, commensurate with experience, with additional performance-based variable compensation discussed during the interview process
- This is a W2 Employment position in Arizona
- Health, Vision and Dental benefits covered by Valutek
- 401(k) with standard Safe Harbour Match
- 2 Weeks PTO + Yearly Accrual for additional weeks.
- 5 Paid Sick Days per Arizona Employment Law.
- 10 Company observed holidays
- Professional Development: This role will be supported by an external Ops program that includes Ops mentorship, community, and live coaching.
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this position, please submit an application at the following link.
https://recruiterflow.com/db_5f712a22c33a3d8ff14e412f5e6ab747/jobs/36
Our team will review your application and get back to you shortly. We look forward to hearing from you!
DISCLAIMER:
Spyglass Ops is an authorized representative of Valutek. We are an Operations Hiring Agency, working on behalf of startup businesses to find and hire Operations Positions. All of our roles are full-time, salaried, leadership positions within growing business. We also filter the businesses we work with, to ensure they provide long-term positions, growth opportunities, and a strong working environment / culture. Our company qualifies and interviews candidates, then connects finalists with our clients for final interviews and job offers. Our highest priority is creating win-win matches for both our candidates and clients.
Pay: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
