Operations Manager

Position Overview:

We are seeking a results-driven Operations Manager to lead our manufacturing operations, with a strong focus on safety, operational excellence, employee development, and continuous improvement. This leadership role is responsible for driving performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost, while fostering a collaborative and accountable culture.

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader, capable of aligning operational activities with strategic objectives, developing high-performing teams, and ensuring compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety & Compliance Leadership

• Serve as a role model and advocate for a safety-first culture.
• Ensure adherence to all safety policies and procedures while empowering employees to raise safety concerns.
• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) to drive continuous improvement in safety performance.
• Lead 6S initiatives across the site, achieving established targets for improvement in workplace organization and safety.

Operational & Financial Management

• Manage departmental budgets and drive operational performance to achieve key performance indicators (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost).
• Develop and execute action plans to address operational gaps and drive continuous improvement.
• Translate executive objectives into actionable programs, ensuring alignment across teams.

Employee Development & Engagement

• Ensure all employees are properly trained and work is performed in accordance with established procedures and standards.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, ownership, and employee engagement through transparent communication and involvement.
• Coach and develop supervisory staff in leadership, team building, lean methodologies, and continuous improvement techniques.

Process Optimization & Equipment Management

• Ensure equipment and facilities are maintained to minimize downtime and maximize throughput.
• Collaborate with Plant Engineering to leverage maintenance management systems and drive equipment reliability improvements.
• Identify capital investment needs and lead cross-functional teams in developing capital authorization requests.

Continuous Improvement & Customer Focus

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through structured pipeline initiatives and Kaizen events.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships to support product diversification and business growth.
• Lead or support contract negotiations, new business development efforts, and new product introduction initiatives.

Data Integrity & Compliance

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of production data, inventory management, and material consumption reporting.
• Support financial planning, budget preparation, and adherence to SOX compliance and ethical standards.

Measures of Performance:

• Drive and sustain a zero-injury culture (DAFW/RT and TRIR metrics).
• Achieve zero customer escapes through first-pass yield and non-conformance reduction.
• Ensure compliance with financial, legal, and ethical standards.
• Deliver continuous improvement results in sales, productivity, cost reduction, and EBIT performance.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field required; Master’s Degree or MBA highly desirable.
• 5-6 years of manufacturing or operations management experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TOC (Theory of Constraints), Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced, metric-driven environment.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems for scheduling, supply chain management, and production control.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.