Position: Director of Operations

Status: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt

Salary: Salaries at Advanced Ionics are paid once monthly

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Position Summary: The Director of Operations is responsible for overseeing and optimizing our day-to-day operations, driving strategic initiatives, and managing cross-functional projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in technical project management and product development, with a proven track record of success.

Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position. Days and hours of the work are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Support leadership’s objectives, providing day-to-day operational leadership across all departments.
• Establish and manage performance metrics and KPIs to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and promote operational excellence
• Assist managers in setting comprehensive objectives and key results (OKRs) for performance and growth.
• Design and implement operational strategies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall business performance. Maintain dashboards and other reporting tools to track progress.
• Mentor a team of multidisciplinary professionals, encouraging a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Work with cross-functional teams, including product development, sales, marketing, and finance, to drive product innovation and commercialization initiatives.
• Assist in planning and reporting, while monitoring execution.
• Plan, execute, and monitor key projects from start to finish, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines, and budget constraints.
• Collaborate with teams and leadership to identify and mitigate risks, resolve issues, and escalate concerns as needed for successful project and business delivery.
• Oversee the development of materials, including timelines, status updates, dashboards, and general slides for the board of directors.
• Develop, collect, and maintain a catalog of business information, overviews, and photographs for leadership use. Coordinate material flow, key messages, and slide development for presentations to the Board of Directors, Investors, and Key Customers.
• Other duties as may be assigned

You’re the right candidate for this job if you enjoy workplaces where everyone has a voice, if you’re passionate about solving climate change through complex and wonky markets, and if you’re willing to propose a new idea, write a memo, code a script, and turn a wrench, you bring positive energy and are flexible in your position.

We know the right candidate might not check every box in this job description. You could also have important skills we haven't thought of. If you think you’re a great candidate for this role, apply and tell us why. To apply, send us a resume and a few sentences about why you are interested in this position and what you bring to the table. There will be opportunities for us to train you too! We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

About Advanced Ionics:

Our mission is to decarbonize the "hard-to-abate" heavy industrial sectors of the world economy with a new class of electrolyzers. Advanced Ionics is seeking a highly motivated people to join our growing team that is dedicated to developing transformational green hydrogen industrial electrolyzer systems.

At Advanced Ionics, we’ve created a green hydrogen platform that allows industrial hydrogen producers and users to achieve sustainability and decarbonize, without sacrificing profit. We combine our patented Symbiotic electrolyzer technology with our customers’ onsite process and waste heat to produce the lowest-cost green hydrogen on the market.

We’re a thoughtful, venture-backed, and mission-oriented team of engineers, creatives, and business people looking to change the world. And, we’re proud to say we’re headquartered in the great city of Milwaukee, in the heart of the industrial Midwest.

Consistent with our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we value people with the ability to work on diverse teams and with a diverse range of people. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans, and people with disabilities.

What We Offer:

• This is a full-time position
• Competitive, negotiable salary
• Vesting options for equity in a venture-backed, climate-tech startup
• Health and retirement benefits, with flexible options
• Generous vacation policy
• Paid parental and sick leave

About Our Hiring Process:

Our hiring process consists of the following:

• 1^st Round Virtual Interview
• Assessments
• 2^nd Round (ideally) In-Person Interview
• References
• Conditional Job Offer
• Background Check
• Onboarding
• Orientation

Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required; an MBA, MSc, or similar is preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of general management experience is required.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in operations, project, or program management, with a proven track record of successfully leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects from start to finish.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and techniques (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, PMBOK, etc.).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset and a passion for driving continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Outstanding organizational and leadership abilities are required, including the ability to recognize and cultivate rising talent.
• Experience with a startup or other highly agile, innovative organization is preferred.
• Experience in the heavy industry with both modular and non-modular equipment is a plus.
• PMP or other relevant certifications are desirable.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and leadership