Director of Operations

Job description

ABOUT US Reframe Systems is a Physical AI and robotics company on a mission to make high-performance housing attainable and abundant in the communities where people want to live. Through our vertically integrated delivery model and highly automated microfactories, we deliver climate-resilient homes and buildings with greater speed and predictability than traditional construction. Our volumetric modular buildings are produced in our Andover, MA microfactory, with a growing pipeline across North America and a new 100,000 sq. ft. microfactory on the way in Billerica, MA. We are building a system that balances repeatability with site-responsive design, enabling homes that are adaptable to each site, community, and customer's needs. Our cross-disciplinary team brings together architecture, robotics, design engineering, software, factory operations, and field delivery to change how housing gets delivered. We’re reimagining the future of housing through a smarter and more sustainable system that empowers people to live better. Build it with us. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR We’re looking for a Head of Operations to join the Reframe executive team and lead the scaling of our manufacturing and field operations. Reporting directly to the CEO and working alongside leaders in Design, Technology, Field Construction, and Revenue, you will own the transition from single-site prototype operations to a high-volume, multi-facility scaling model. As Head of Operations, you are a proven operational leader who thrives at the intersection of physical systems, automation software, and high-velocity teams. We are not managing a steady-state operation—we are building the infrastructure, culture, and playbook to scale from one factory to many. We need a technology-forward leader who brings deep rigor, systems thinking, and execution discipline to a genuinely novel manufacturing challenge. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Factory Operations & Multi-Site Scaling - Launch & Facility Transition: Lead the transition and launch from our Andover prototype facility (FAB0) to our new 100,000 sq. ft. production facility in Billerica, MA (FAB1)—from floor layout, work cell design, and equipment commissioning through full production capacity. - P&L & Target Ownership: Own factory P&L, throughput targets, labor efficiency, quality metrics, and unit cost reductions. - The "1 → 2 → N" Playbook: Build the organizational playbook, standard operating procedures, and management infrastructure to scale from our current team to a multi-facility production network. 2. Plant Leadership & Floor Operations Management - Direct Management of Plant Leadership: Oversee the Plant Manager (who owns daily huddles, floor takt time, and direct shop supervision) to ensure production plans reliably translate into finished, high-quality homes. - Workforce Scaling: Build the supervision structure required as direct labor scales from ~20 to 80+ builders, technicians, and area leads across multiple shifts. - Operational Rhythms: Institutionalize durable daily/weekly management infrastructure (S&OP, tiered huddles, visual management boards, and standardized KPI dashboards). 3. Operational Excellence, Quality & Safety Systems - Continuous Improvement (CI): Establish a data-driven CI function that systematically eliminates bottlenecks, improves cycle times, and enhances labor efficiency. - Quality & Safety Systems: Implement robust QA/QC gates, in-process line checks, standardized problem-solving, and closed-loop CAPA processes. Build scalable safety programs designed to protect a growing hourly workforce. 4. Supply Chain, Procurement & Cost Accounting - Supply Chain Resilience: Own materials procurement, inventory management, vendor relationships, and logistics to eliminate supply chain fragility as throughput accelerates. - Real-Time Margin Tracking: Partner with Finance to establish real-time cost accounting by work cell and project, providing full visibility into unit economics. 5. Technology & Data Integration - Software Collaboration: Serve as a strategic power user and sponsor for our factory floor software, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), design-to-manufacturing pipelines, and operational data tools. - Product Feedback: Translate shop-floor realities into actionable priorities for software, robotics, and design engineering teams. QUALIFICATIONS - 10+ years of operations leadership, including direct ownership of at least one large-scale facility launch or ramp in advanced manufacturing, fulfillment, or industrial environments. - Track record of managing plant leadership: Experience hiring, coaching, and managing Plant Managers, Shift Supervisors, and functional operations leads through rapid workforce expansion. - Proven scaling track record: Demonstrated ability to build operational infrastructure from scratch, stand up work cells, design org structures, and scale teams through rapid growth. - Tech-Enabled Operations: Deep experience operating in environments where software, automation, MES tools, and physical assembly are tightly integrated. - Data-Driven Mindset: High analytical rigor with a track record of building metrics systems that directly inform executive decision-making ("If it isn't measured, it isn't managed"). - Executive Presence: Strong communication and leadership skills; comfortable representing operational strategy to investors, board members, and floor operators alike. NICE TO HAVE - Experience navigating the “prototype facility to production factory” transition (low-rate to high-volume) and managing the edge cases that arise during facility moves. - Background in high-velocity advanced manufacturing, volumetric modular construction, automotive, aerospace, or industrial logistics. - Practical application of Lean, TWI, or Six Sigma methodologies within a venture-backed startup or high-growth environment. - Comfort operating in an environment where product design and production playbooks are actively evolving. FIRST-YEAR OUTCOMES & ROADMAP FIRST 30 DAYS (ASSESSMENT, ALIGNMENT & FLOOR INTEGRATION) - Build trust and operating rhythm with executive peers (CEO, Product, Field, Finance) and on-the-floor plant leadership (Plant Manager and Area Leads). - Audit current-state performance at Andover (throughput, labor efficiency, quality escapes, safety, schedule reliability, unit cost) and identify the top 3 bottlenecks holding back the build plan. - Align on 3–5 core operational KPIs with the CEO that define company success for the year. - Produce the initial Factory Scaling & Move Plan for the Billerica launch, including hiring ramp assumptions, facility readiness, and risk mitigation strategies. - Baseline the operational excellence and quality system (QA/QC gates, defect taxonomy, corrective action loops). FIRST 90 DAYS (SYSTEMIZATION & BILLERICA READINESS) - Institutionalize the core operating system: weekly S&OP processes, daily shop-floor management rhythms, visual management, and standardized KPI dashboards. - Deliver measurable performance lifts at Andover against primary constraints using systematic CI mechanisms. - Stand up the integrated Billerica Launch Program with Plant Management (facility layout, staffing/hiring, training, commissioning sequence, quality, safety, and supply chain readiness) with formal go/no-go gates. - Implement production-ready safety, compliance, and closed-loop CAPA quality systems across active production cells. FIRST YEAR (SCALE, LAUNCH & REPEATABILITY) - Successfully lead the production team through the Billerica launch and ramp to stable output (40–50+ homes annually) with predictable throughput, quality, and labor efficiency. - Scale direct labor from ~20 to 80+ with a robust supervision structure and strong leadership bench that holds under load. - Document and finalize the repeatable "1 → 2 → N" Operational Playbook for rapid multi-site replication. - Drive a step-change improvement in unit economics (material/labor cost per unit down, on-time delivery up, defect escapes down). - Establish end-to-end supply chain visibility and work-cell level cost accounting for precise project margin control. Reframe Systems is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you believe you have the skills to thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet 100% of the listed requirements. At this time, we are only considering candidates who are authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.