Director of Operations

Location: Denver, CO (On-site Full Time)
Reports to: Founders / Managing Partners

About NeedlePaint

NeedlePaint is a needlepoint company redefining a traditional craft with innovation and technology. We sell premium on-demand direct-to-consumer needlepoint kits and finished hand-stitched products through multiple eCommerce channels as well as a wholesale business serving designers and specialty shops across the country. We're a small collaborative team setting a new standard for the industry with modern technology and optimized operations.

The Role

We're hiring a Director of Operations to lead NeedlePaint's day-to-day operations across production, fulfillment, and inventory, while managing and developing the team that makes it all happen. You'll have real authority to improve systems, set priorities, and raise the bar on quality, speed, and reliability as we scale.

What You'll Do

Oversee Production

Own end-to-end operations across printing, manufacturing, finishing, and fulfillment
Improve production workflows, capacity planning, and lead-time management
Work closely with printing and production teams to ensure quality and consistency
Oversee both our Denver production and coordinate with our partners overseas

Lead the Team

Lead and support production managers, technicians, and operations team members
Build clear accountability and performance expectations
Hire, develop, and mentor the team as we grow
Be the calm, steady presence when things get busy (and they do)

Manage Inventory & Supply Chain

Manage inventory planning for canvases, threads, finishing materials, and packaging
Improve forecasting to support DTC, wholesale, and seasonal demand
Own vendor relationships, purchasing, and cost controls
Reduce stockouts, waste, and rush production scenarios

Build Better Systems

Translate founder-level vision into executable processes
Find bottlenecks and fix them (or build around them)
Drive continuous improvement in quality and efficiency
Balance quality, speed, and cost as the business scales
Define and track core operational KPIs (lead time, throughput, on-time ship, inventory accuracy, waste/rework)

Collaborate

Act as a key partner to founders on planning, capacity decisions, and growth initiatives
Work with sales, marketing, and customer service to align operations with demand
Be the voice of operations in how we build our tools to improve operational systems (order management, scheduling, reporting)

Who You Are

Must-Haves

5+ years in operations in a hands-on environment (DTC, consumer goods, light manufacturing, or fulfillment)
Experience managing people (hiring, coaching, accountability, and performance feedback)
Strong grasp of production planning, scheduling, and capacity management
Experience with inventory forecasting and vendor management
Clear communicator who can stay organized under pressure
Comfortable working cross-functionally with sales/marketing/customer experience
You're a hands-on, high-standards leader, willing to jump in when needed, and focused on building systems that prevent chaos

Nice-to-Haves

Experience with custom products, print-on-demand, or made-to-order workflows
Experience with Shopify and/or order/inventory tools
Genuine interest in craft/textiles/needlepoint (or excitement to learn)

Why This Might Be the Job for You

Real authority: You'll make decisions that matter and directly shape the company
Visible impact: When you fix something, you'll immediately see it in lead times, margins, and team morale
Leadership: You'll help build the culture and capabilities of the production team
Engaged founders: We are engaged, product-focused founders who want to provide what you need to take operations ownership
Interesting product: You'll be working to produce handcrafted products people love, with industry-changing technology, personalization, and on-demand fulfillment
Room to grow: This role has real opportunity to expand as the company grows

Who We Are

Founded in 2009, NeedlePaint has grown significantly in the past few years. That growth has meant new systems, new tools, and new processes, and we want someone to help us bring them even further.

We created StitchPerfect printing, our patent-pending canvas printing technology, and also offer traditional hand-painted canvases using a trusted artisan network. We are not just distributors with a website and a warehouse. We are a full-scale printing and production facility in Denver, CO supported by global partners and an innovative technology team.

Founders are engaged and collaborative. We want an operator who can own the function, and we'll back you with resources and fast decisions.