Operations Manager; multi-site

Our client is an established manufacturer seeking a hands‑on Multi‑Site Operations Manager to lead three manufacturing facilities operating across day, night and weekend shifts.

This is a significant leadership opportunity within a healthy, respected business. Customer relationships are strong, demand is solid (including a healthy backlog), and an experienced team is ready to participate in what comes next.

The opportunity is not to arrive with a predetermined playbook and immediately change everything. The right leader will first learn the business, understand the people and processes, preserve what works and then help the organization reach a higher level.

Reporting to the company President, the Multi‑Site Operations Manager will provide senior‑level leadership for approximately 150–170 production employees. Plant Production Managers report directly to this position.

This leader will be responsible for safety, quality, productivity, staffing, labor efficiency, cost control, customer commitments and leadership development across a complex build‑to‑order manufacturing environment.

The work is dynamic. Priorities can change quickly based on customer requirements, staffing, equipment availability, production flow and shipping commitments. This is not a position managed primarily from an office. The Operations Manager must be visible on the manufacturing floor, accessible to employees and comfortable solving problems alongside the people closest to the work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, coach and develop Plant Production Managers, supervisors, leads and production teams.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability across facilities and shifts.
• Align production with maintenance, scheduling, warehouse, shipping, quality, safety, engineering, purchasing and human resources.
• Monitor production output, labor efficiency, quality, safety, staffing and operating costs.
• Identify barriers and take ownership of problems through resolution.
• Use operational and financial data to guide decisions and improvements.
• Strengthen cellular manufacturing, continuous flow, waste reduction and other Lean practices.
• Balance employee needs, customer expectations, production schedules, quality standards and business priorities.
• Build upon the knowledge of a tenured workforce while introducing fresh ideas and better ways of working.

Leadership capability matters more than experience with one exact product or manufacturing process.

The successful candidate will be analytical and data‑driven, but also approachable, decisive and comfortable addressing difficult issues directly. This person should be able to listen, earn credibility, develop people and translate ideas into action.

Qualifications include:

• Five or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading managers, supervisors and production teams.
• Broad understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, labor management, safety, quality and cost control.
• Demonstrated ability to improve performance and develop frontline leadership.
• Strong financial literacy and comfort using operational data.
• Practical Lean manufacturing and continuous‑improvement experience.
• Experience with ERP or MRP systems;
  Microsoft Dynamics experience is helpful.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and performance reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations management, manufacturing or a related field.

Experience with metal fabrication, engineered‑to‑order products, configurable products, industrial components or comparable durable‑goods manufacturing would transfer well. Exact product experience is not required.

This is a practical, unpretentious manufacturing culture. Blue jeans and steel‑toed shoes will be more useful than a suit and tie. Strong history, strong future, excellent leadership in place.

The company is located in northwest Wisconsin, within reach of Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Rice Lake. The area offers an affordable cost of living and easy access to lakes, acreage, hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, snowmobiling and other four‑season recreation.

For an accomplished manufacturing leader who still has more to contribute professionally—and who values the lifestyle available outside a major metropolitan area—this is an opportunity worth exploring.