Head of Operations

Job Description : Head of Operations – Carson Facility

Location : Carson, CA

Department : Operations

Reports To : VP & COO

Employment Type : Full-Time, Exempt

About Us

Woojin IS America, Inc. (WISA), headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, CA, is a fast-growing manufacturer specializing in electric equipment for rolling stock and light rail vehicles. We proudly serve North American customers with advanced technologies that deliver safe, reliable, and long-lasting transportation equipment.

About the Role

Woojin IS America (WISA) is seeking an experienced and driven Head of Carson Operations to lead our railcar production facility in Carson, California. This position plays a critical role in overseeing all operational activities — including safety, production, quality, and employee development — to ensure our manufacturing teams deliver high-quality rail vehicle components that meet customer expectations and project commitments.

As the Head of Operations, you’ll lead a talented production team, manage day-to-day plant operations, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, safety, and performance. This is a hands-on leadership role suited for an operations professional with strong organizational, technical, and people management skills who thrive in a dynamic, project-based manufacturing environment.

• Plan, organize, and direct daily production activities for railcar refurbishment, overhaul, and modification projects , ensuring adherence to project scope and technical requirements.
• Establish and monitor production priorities, schedules, and workflow based on project plans, including structural repairs, interior upgrades, electrical systems rework, HVAC, door systems, and other railcar subsystems.
• Ensure all refurbishment tasks follow approved procedures, engineering documentation, and industry standards specific to passenger rail vehicles.
• Review production performance versus established KPIs (schedule, cost, quality); identify variances and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate production activities with Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Program Management to ensure proper material availability, technical clarity, and timely project execution.
• Maintain the facility in an organized, clean, and efficient state; ensure compliance with 5S standards across all railcar bays and work areas.

• Ensure all employees follow established safety procedures and that safety training is current, especially in areas specific to railcar refurbishment such as confined space entry, elevated work, electrical lockout / tagout, welding, and hot work.
• Oversee quality assurance and ensure compliance with rail industry standards such as APTA, FRA, and customer-specific requirements.
• Monitor and verify that all work on railcars — including structural welding, interior installations, component replacements, wiring, and mechanical adjustments — meets specifications and approved inspection points.
• Support safety and quality audits; document findings and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Supervise, train, and develop production supervisors, leads, and employees performing railcar rebuild and refurbishment activities.
• Provide coaching and performance feedback to ensure individual and team development.
• Conduct regular employee evaluations in partnership with HR to assess performance, identify strengths, and address areas for improvement.
• Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and teamwork across all levels of the production organization.
• Ensure adequate staffing levels, including specialized skills needed for railcar refurbishment (welders, electricians, mechanics, interiors technicians).

• Track productivity, schedule adherence, and budget performance for each railcar project or unit; develop improvement plans where targets are not met.
• Approve weekly labor hours and ensure accurate allocation of costs to each railcar or project phase.
• Evaluate labor hours per unit versus budget; implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Lead continuous improvement…