Operations Manager

Purpose:

Join a growing manufacturing organization in a highly visible leadership role with significant career advancement potential. This position serves as the primary operational partner to the General Manager and HR Business Partner, leading a 150-employee manufacturing facility while driving excellence in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Inventory performance.

As a key member of the leadership team, you will lead and mentor Manufacturing Team Leads, develop frontline talent, strengthen employee engagement, improve morale, and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture. This role offers the unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment while supporting future facility expansion and increased customer demand.

The successful candidate will bring 5-8 years of manufacturing leadership experience as a Plant Manager or Operations Manager, preferably within a turn-around, transformation, or continuous improvement environment. Beyond impacting the local operation, this role offers a clear pathway for expanded responsibilities supporting additional manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Michigan, and potentially California and Mexico as the organization continues to grow.

A primary focus of this role is meeting customer commitments by ensuring the operations team is informed, prepared, and capable of executing production plans. The Operations Manager is responsible for implementing the measures and initiatives needed to maintain continuity of supply, address changing business needs, and support the success and growth of the operation.

DESCRIPTION: Lead department(s), Personnel, & Product line(s). 

1. Carry out responsibilities in accordance with company policies, procedures, and applicable laws across all departments and shifts, ensuring fair and consistent application.
2. Interview, coach/develop, and train team members and team leaders.
3. Plan, assign, and direct work and continuous improvement projects to achieve Business Unit goals and budget targets.
4. Conduct performance evaluations and administer recognition and corrective action, in partnership with HR, to support accountability, development, and performance improvement for all team members, including Team Leads and Line Leads.
5. Address complaints and resolve problems in a timely and fair manner in tandem with HR.
6. Participate in and coordinate new capital expenses to prepare for future business growth as needed.
7. Prepare, run, and distribute required reports and conduct daily, weekly, and monthly meetings as needed.
8. Address and resolve workplace issues, employee concerns, and team-related conflicts in accordance with company policies and procedures, in partnership with HR.
9. Report out on all SQDCI metric to target and initiatives for improvement on results as required.
10. Meet daily with operations leaders to review production status, challenges and give direction as required.
11. Check on departmental progress to plan throughout the day, resolve issues accordingly.
12. Lead discussions/presentations to hourly workforce as needed for updates, issues or plans.
13. Work with departmental managers to ensure the business objectives and milestones are met.
14. Always conducts oneself respectfully and professionally as a direct liaison to the hourly workforce.
15. Facilitates and participates as needed in all project work needing operations support, ensures operations is meeting deadlines, targets and deliverables as required.
16. Workforce weekend work as needed/approved by GM (Hourly workforce).
17. Travel as needed/approved by GM, but efforts are always made to keep that to a minimum.
18. 9 hour work day is required, sometimes more is needed depending on circumstances. 
19. Flexing of hours to regularly to interact with all 3 shifts as needed.

PRIMARY ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The critical primary responsibilities are, but not limited to:

Safety/Environment - 1 priority at all times by strictly enforcing all policies.

You instill Health, Safety, and Environmental awareness in your team.  You understand the HSE structure and policies and your responsibilities within that.

Confirm PPE requirements are understood, issued and enforced in the team.  PPE usage is monitored daily with assurances of complete conformance.

You challenge unsafe practices inside or outside of your own area of control.  Contain and resolve issues.  Escalate safety/environmental concerns where appropriate.

Confirm daily safety checks and regular safety audits are carried out.  Ensure that processes are stopped if unsafe and handled immediately and appropriately if not being followed.

Risk assessments are carried out and actions closed off as required or assigned.

Investigate accidents and complete corrective actions / formal 8D as required.

Ensure that HSE concerns are included in the Standardized Work e.g. rotation of operators. The training matrix should support any required rotation or depth.

5S is championed, maintained, improved and audited.

Confirm that Standardized Work is championed, audited, and diversions from the standard are highlighted and approved - using Standard Work Confirmation.

Confirm that relevant emergency procedures are understood by you and your team.  Make sure you and your team are competent to carry them out.

Issues affecting safety/environment are resolved in a timely and appropriate way and escalated if necessary with solid and immediate communication to all appropriate levels.

Ensure that OSHA/manual handling/waste management/energy management requirements are met.  Identify HSE training needs to support these requirements.

You ensure that all the necessary equipment is provided in your area in order to have good waste segregation. Waste segregation is monitored.

Your team follows energy switch off procedures in your area.  Promote energy saving awareness where possible.

Quality

Understand and be able to communicate the BUILT-IN QUALITY WITH OWNERSHIP philosophy to your team.

The Quality standard to be achieved is understood by you and your team.

Achievement of Right First Time (RFT) quality.

Non-conformance is challenged. Instill correct use of the ANDON process/ stop-call-wait.

Manage the training matrix to ensure versatility and depth across your areas.  Confirm the Training matrix is accurately completed and maintained and actions are being taken in a timely manner monthly and posted on SQDCI boards as required.

Confirm periodic audits are performed to ensure standardized work adherence

Methods of reporting bad quality from internal/external suppliers are used and corrective actions are driven using support functions.

Ensure all required training is planned and is completed as required through HR and Quality for new hires/onboarding.

Ensure issues affecting quality are resolved in and appropriate way, communicated as needed and escalated when necessary.

Support and participate in all quality systems audits both internally and externally.

Drive containment and problem solving activities as needed, where required.

Participate, lead and report out on all quality issues, containment and resolution through daily departmental meetings and weekly report out meetings. 

Continuous Improvement

Personally challenge fixed ideas, current methods and look for ways to make improvement using a kaizen initiative plan where applicable.

Champion kaizen in all forms within your team, encourage improvement ideas and participation by your team. Confirm the Problem and Countermeasure process is being used effectively, supporting when required.

You drive your team to maintain and improve the 5S/TPM condition of the area.

Continuously check and confirm the status of your area throughout the shift.

Ensure that your Team Leads are process experts and can do the jobs in your area and train others to do them.

Cost

Collect and analyze data to resolve the biggest problems in your area.  Support and coach Team Leads to do the same.

Operate within all operational budget requirements as and where appropriate.

Actively pursue and encourage cost savings.

Minimize overtime and control at all times, daily.

Maintain staffing needs in tandem with HR and GM level.

Ensure teams operate efficiently to targets and address issues as required.  Use data to identify and drive required improvements to stay within budgeted limits.

Lead approved Capex initiatives and milestones through implementation.

Ensure no non-budgeted spending occurs without the required approvals.

Issues affecting cost are escalated in a timely and appropriate way to GM.

Delivery

Ensure production schedule expectations are understood and adhered to and manage the resources accordingly.

Utilize available resources effectively to achieve production targets e.g. Materials, Engineering, QA where appropriate.

Ensure daily production targets are understood, tracked and met.

Any changes to the schedule are communicated effectively throughout the shift.

Confirm Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) checks are completed by the team.

Prioritize maintenance for multiple breakdowns.

Confirm effective end of shift handover.

Manage minimum overtime requirements.

Issues affecting delivery are escalated in a timely and appropriate way.

Clear communications are cascaded urgently to appropriate managers and leaders on late deliveries, why and what measures are in place to catch up quickly.

Active involvement in New Product Launch or new product changes in your area.

People and Communication

Understand, assure conformance to and effectively utilize company policies and procedures.

Drives employee engagement through positive reinforcement.

Understand your role in relationships with employee representatives.

Ensure effective, relevant, timely and appropriate communications at all levels and across the business as needed.

Ensure team briefs (toolbox meetings) happen every shift and covers health and safety, environment, quality, 5S/TPM, absence, targets. (SQDCI elements).

Team Members are performance managed via coaching, support and use of formal procedures where necessary.

Understand behavior standards expected of you, your Leads and Team Members Challenge non-conformance appropriately and in a timely manner.

People are used effectively to meet holiday, absence, training requirements. 

Resource issues are escalated and resolution may involve the Leads temporarily covering the process wherever needed to protect customer deliverables.

Training needs are identified and resourced.

Ensure effective induction into the area for all new hires.

Recognize and deal appropriately with the different needs of the operators.

Recognize and develop potential within your area(s).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct detailed assessments of manufacturing and operational workflows to identify bottlenecks, waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for standardization and improvement.

• Develop, implement, and sustain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), visual management systems, and process controls aligned with Lean/Six Sigma principles.

• Analyze operational data and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and sustainability of improvement initiatives.

• Present project progress, business impact, and performance results to plant leadership and executive stakeholders.

• Collaborate with leadership teams to prioritize continuous improvement opportunities, support capital expenditure planning, and allocate project resources effectively.

• Lead implementation teams responsible for achieving measurable improvements in cost reduction, productivity, safety, quality, inventory management, and customer delivery performance.

• Support the development and expansion of manufacturing processes, materials capabilities, and operational scalability across the organization.

• Facilitate change management efforts by building organizational engagement, accountability, and adoption of Operational Excellence practices.

• Ensure continuous improvement initiatives are aligned with company goals, operational strategies, and long-term growth objectives.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Operations Management.

PREFERRED EDUCATION:Master's degree in Engineering or Operations Management.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:- 5-8 years as a Lean / Six Sigma Manager or in similar process improvement roles.
- Experience in operations leadership, process optimization, or lean management.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Operational Excellence, Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operations Leadership, or Process Optimization within a manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated success leading Lean/Six Sigma initiatives that delivered measurable operational and financial results.

• Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma tools including:

· 5S

· Kaizen

· Value Stream Mapping

· Kanban

· Root Cause Analysis

· Standard Work

· Statistical Process Improvement Methods

• Experience working with ERP systems, manufacturing systems, and process mapping software to support operational improvements.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects and manage change in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

• Excellent leadership, communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with experience interpreting operational data and identifying actionable improvement opportunities.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining focus on execution and results.

• Strong commitment to safety, operational discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement culture development.

• Experience in manufacturing, logistics, industrial operations, or related operational environments preferred.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related discipline.

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification.

• Lean Manufacturing Certification.

• PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification.

• CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) Certification.

• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) Certification.

• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations and international facilities.

- Excellent communicator and leader with the ability to influence others.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects in dynamic settings.
- Strong analytical skills with a results-driven mindset focused on measurable outcomes.
- Commitment to fostering continuous improvement.

PRIMARY LOCATION AND REPORTING STRUCTURE

• Valparaiso, Indiana

• Travel Requirement: 25–40%, including support for the Leon, Mexico facility.

Preferred Skills and Abilities: