Director of Production

C2's client, a Glendale, WI-based marketing and retail solutions company, creates the physical brand experiences that move product on automotive dealer floors nationwide, designing and producing the interactive displays, fixtures, and environments that help car buyers make decisions at the point of sale, seeks a Director of Production to lead the team responsible for outsourcing and delivering those experiences across a complex portfolio of client projects.

This is a senior leadership role at the center of how our client delivers on its promises. The Director of Production owns the full production lifecycle, estimating, supplier management, quality assurance, scheduling, and budget accountability, while leading and developing a team that touches every major project the company runs.

Our client operates at the intersection of creative and operational, where design vision has to become physical reality, on time, on budget, and at scale. The right candidate has done this before, knows the retail fixture and point-of-purchase world from the inside, and leads with both technical credibility and genuine investment in the people around them.

Start Date: ASAP

Duration: Direct Hire

Location: Hybrid, Glendale, WI, 3 days onsite, 2 days remote

Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience

Technology: TBD

Job Description

The Director of Production reports to senior leadership and manages the department responsible for outsourcing the manufacturing of retail fixtures, point-of-purchase displays, and printed materials. This role sits at the operational core of the organization, where every client commitment ultimately runs through production to become reality.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The Director serves as a technical resource and a people leader in equal measure, someone who can negotiate with a supplier in the morning and coach a team member in the afternoon.

Travel of 10 to 20% may be required.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the production department across estimating, supplier selection, quality assurance, on-time delivery, and budget management for simple to complex projects
• Maintain and grow a supplier base that creates competitive advantage, drives innovation, and meets client needs
• Establish and manage key supplier relationships, resolving grievances, conflicts, and quality issues as they arise
• Own total cost, quality, warranty, and on-time delivery across all production projects
• Estimate costs for fixtures and components, including development costs, tooling, overhead, supplier costs, margins, packaging, and quantities
• Prepare and present final quotes aligned to client timelines and budgets
• Serve as a technical resource on materials, manufacturing processes, scheduling, and production needs
• Collaborate cross-functionally with sales, design, project management, installation, logistics, and client relations to ensure timely project deliverables
• Develop and track KPIs, driving the team toward continuous improvement
• Mentor, train, and develop team members, building a strong and stable department across multiple levels
• Provide training and share production knowledge across the team and broader organization

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in production, manufacturing, or supply chain, ideally within retail fixtures, point-of-purchase displays, or a related discipline
• Deep knowledge of retail fixture and POP display manufacturing, materials, and processes
• Proven experience in production estimating, including tooling, overhead, supplier costs, and margin management
• Strong supplier management background, including relationship building, negotiation, and conflict resolution
• Demonstrated leadership experience across cross-functional teams, with a high aptitude for mentoring and developing others
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP systems
• Effective communicator across internal teams, suppliers, and clients
• Organized, detail-oriented, and strong at follow-through
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred

Nice to Have:

• Experience at a retail marketing, POP, or in-store display agency
• Familiarity with automotive retail environments or dealer floor marketing programs
• Background managing global or international supplier relationships

Not your type of gig, but know someone who would be interested? Refer a qualified candidate, and if they get the job, you get a signing bonus! (Make sure they mention your name as their referral source so you get your well-deserved credit!)

All candidates must be located and authorized to work in the United States. C2 does not sponsor work visas. No C2C.