Plant Operations Manager

Purpose of the Job:

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating overall plant operations, including production, engineering support, and operational improvement initiatives. This role ensures that manufacturing activities run efficiently, safely, and in alignment with business objectives. The Operations Manager drives operational performance through strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes.

Reporting directly to the General Manager, this role provides day-to-day leadership across production operations while maintaining engineering oversight for process improvement, technical problem solving, and new product introduction. The Operations Manager works closely with production, quality, supply chain, maintenance, and engineering resources to maintain high standards of safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

Essential Duties, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities

(Include the following; however, other duties may apply.)

Operational Leadership

• Lead daily plant operations to ensure production schedules, quality standards, and delivery commitments are consistently achieved.
• Provide direct leadership and guidance to production supervisors and operational support personnel.
• Maintain a consistent presence on the production floor to monitor performance, support teams, and address operational challenges in real time.
• Establish clear expectations for operational performance and accountability across departments.
• Support staffing, training, and development of production leadership and technical personnel.

Production Management

• Oversee execution of production schedules and ensure alignment with customer demand and plant capacity.
• Monitor production metrics including throughput, scrap, efficiency, and equipment utilization.
• Identify and resolve operational constraints impacting production flow.
• Work closely with supervisors to maintain efficient workflow and balanced production across departments.

Engineering and Technical Support

• Provide technical leadership related to manufacturing processes, machining operations, tooling, and equipment capabilities.
• Support troubleshooting of complex production issues involving machining processes, setups, tooling, or equipment performance.
• Oversee implementation of engineering changes, process improvements, and new product introductions.
• Collaborate with engineering resources to improve manufacturability and operational efficiency.

Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase equipment reliability.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem-solving methods.
• Implement process improvements that support long-term operational stability and efficiency.
• Encourage a culture of operational discipline and continuous improvement across production teams.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate operational activities across production, engineering, quality, purchasing, and planning.
• Communicate operational priorities, challenges, and performance updates to leadership.
• Ensure alignment between operational execution and broader business objectives.

Safety and Compliance

• Promote and reinforce a culture of safety throughout the plant.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, ISO, and internal safety and quality standards.
• Evaluate equipment, processes, and procedures for potential risks and implement corrective actions when necessary.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report operational performance metrics to the General Manager.
• Monitor progress of improvement initiatives and ensure accountability for results.
• Support operational planning and forecasting activities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role provides leadership and direction across plant operations and may oversee production supervisors, engineering resources, and operational support personnel. The Operations Manager is responsible for setting performance expectations, supporting leadership development, and ensuring accountability for operational performance across the facility.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent experience in manufacturing leadership or machining operations will also be considered.

Candidates should have at least five years of experience in a manufacturing environment with demonstrated leadership responsibility. A strong technical background in machining or manufacturing processes is highly desirable, as the role requires the ability to support production teams in troubleshooting operational challenges and improving manufacturing performance.

Skills:

• Strong leadership capability with experience directing plant operations and production teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of machining and manufacturing processes, with the ability to troubleshoot production issues and support technical problem solving on the shop floor.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational performance related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to coordinate across production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership teams.
• Strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to manage operational priorities, improvement initiatives, and multiple projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.