Operations Manager - Manufacturing

Our client is a forward-thinking global manufacturer specializing in the design, development, and production of high-quality plastic components and assemblies for the automotive, industrial, and healthcare sectors. With advanced expertise in blow molding and injection molding, the company partners with leading global organizations to bring the vehicles, equipment, and products of tomorrow to life.

Driven by innovation, sustainability, quality, and operational excellence, the organization is entering an exciting period of continued growth supported by significant capital investment, strategic acquisitions, and organic expansion.

To support this growth, the company is seeking an accomplished Operations Manager to lead manufacturing operations at its facility in Anderson, South Carolina.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity with responsibility for Production, Production Scheduling, Maintenance, Tooling, Engineering, Technical Resources, and Continuous Improvement. The Operations Manager will play a critical role in improving plant performance, developing high-performing teams, and delivering measurable improvements across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership across Production, Scheduling, Maintenance, Tooling, Engineering, Technical Resources, and Continuous Improvement.
• Optimize the use of people, equipment, tooling, technology, materials, and capital to maximize plant performance and manufacturing efficiency.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives across the operation.
• Identify and implement opportunities to increase productivity, reduce costs and downtime, improve quality, and strengthen manufacturing processes.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, tooling performance, and overall plant efficiency.
• Lead capital projects involving the evaluation, procurement, installation, commissioning, and optimization of new equipment, tooling, and manufacturing technologies.
• Establish and manage operational KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, downtime, and equipment performance, taking corrective action when targets are not achieved.
• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, ISO, and IATF requirements and maintain a strong culture of safety and quality.
• Manage departmental budgets and maintain effective control of labor, materials, maintenance, capital expenditures, and other operating costs.
• Partner cross-functionally with Materials Management, Human Resources, Quality, and Environmental Health & Safety.
• Develop productive relationships with suppliers, contractors, vendors, and external service providers.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop high-performing teams while creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce planning, performance management, talent development, and succession planning to strengthen long-term organizational capabilities.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop and execute operational strategies aligned with the company's growth objectives.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on manufacturing leader who combines strong operational expertise with the ability to develop people, improve processes, and drive sustainable performance.

• 5+ years of manufacturing operations leadership experience, ideally within automotive, plastics, injection molding, and/or blow molding environments.
• Previous automotive manufacturing leadership experience is highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• Demo…