Operations Manager

Job Description

Scope of Position

The Operations Manager will lead the day-to-day manufacturing operations, ensuring the plant delivers high-quality products safely, on time, and at optimal cost. This role drives a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and employee engagement across all shifts. The Operations Manager oversees a team of seven salaried supervisors and 200+ hourly associates, reporting directly to the Plant Manager, and partners with cross-functional leaders to meet plant and business objectives.

Responsibilities

Safety & Compliance

Champion a safe work environment by proactively identifying and resolving safety concerns.

Ensure adherence to all regulatory, company, and environmental compliance standards.

People Leadership & Culture

Lead, develop, and coach salaried supervisors and hourly associates to foster a high-performance, engaged workforce.

Recognize, reward, and support employees to drive positive cultural change.

Oversee staffing plans, hiring, training, and performance management.

Operational Excellence & Quality

Ensure products meet or exceed quality standards and are delivered defect-free to customers.

Maintain compliance with MDI (Managing for Daily Improvement) processes and plant metrics.

Enforce standard work, 5S practices, visual management, and lean principles.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Transformation

Serve as a proactive change agent to identify and implement process improvements.

Drive lean manufacturing methodologies to eliminate waste, enhance flow, and accelerate delivery.

Lead structured problem-solving approaches (A3, 8D, root cause analysis) to achieve sustainable results.

Performance & Results

Meet or exceed plant cost, productivity, and delivery objectives.

Monitor and minimize overtime, discretionary spending, and resource waste.

Execute project management initiatives and ensure alignment with strategic plant goals.

Collaboration & Leadership

Partner with leadership peers across departments to align operational goals with overall plant strategy.

Build trust and drive indirect influence to support cross-functional success.

Qualifications

Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Operations, or a technical field required; MBA preferred.

10+ years of progressive operations or manufacturing experience, including 5+ years in leadership roles.

Proven ability to lead lean transformations and implement continuous improvement methodologies.

Strong knowledge of manufacturing flow, SPC (Statistical Process Control), root cause analysis, and DOE (Design of Experiments).

Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence at all organizational levels.

Demonstrated customer service orientation and ability to deliver results that positively impact the bottom line.

Full-time