Manufacturing Operations Manager- Cold Chain Packaging

The OpportunityA rapidly growing international manufacturer of temperature-controlled packaging solutions is seeking an experienced Operations Manager / Site Leader to establish, scale, and lead its U.S. manufacturing operation on the Northside of Greater Indianapolis.

The company provides passive cooling and cold-chain packaging solutions used primarily by pharmaceutical customers to help protect temperature-sensitive products during transportation. Its North American business is expanding quickly, creating the need for a hands-on operational leader who can build structure, drive daily execution, and ensure products are manufactured and shipped to customers on time.

This is the most senior leadership position onsite and offers significant visibility, ownership, and long-term growth potential. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations, North America, this individual will be accountable for manufacturing, warehouse and logistics operations, inventory, facility maintenance, safety, and the overall performance of the site.

The right person will be comfortable operating in a growing environment where every process is not yet fully established. This role requires someone who can set priorities, make sound decisions, solve problems quickly, and balance operational effectiveness with continuous improvement.

What You Will Be Responsible For:

Site Leadership and Operational Execution Serve as the senior leader onsite and take overall responsibility for the safety, quality, delivery, cost, and performance of the facility.

Establish the operating structure needed to scale the site, including workflows, standard operating procedures, performance expectations, and measurable KPIs.Ensure customer orders are manufactured and shipped accurately and on time.

Build, lead, and develop the local operations team across production, warehouse, logistics, and maintenance.

Recruit, onboard, train, and coach employees as the facility and production capacity expand.

Create a clean, organized, safe, and OSHA-compliant working environment.

Make timely decisions in a fast-moving operation where progress and execution are critical.

Manufacturing and Production Oversee daily production operations and ensure the site meets safety, quality, output, and delivery expectations.

Partner with the production leader to translate weekly demand into practical daily production schedules.

Align staffing, shifts, equipment, and resources with production requirements.

Support the installation, testing, commissioning, and startup of new production equipment and product lines.

Drive improvements in productivity, equipment utilization, scrap reduction, material flow, and operating cost.

Ensure manufacturing processes comply with established quality standards and customer requirements.

Introduce practical Lean Manufacturing and continuous-improvement methods as the operation matures.

Warehouse, Inventory, and Logistics Lead receiving, storage, material handling, picking, packing, and outbound shipping activities.

Maintain accurate inventory records for raw materials, components, and finished products through cycle counts and reconciliations.

Coordinate inbound and outbound transportation with carriers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics providers.

Improve plant layout, warehouse organization, internal material flow, and the movement of products between manufacturing and shipping.

Ensure logistics activities support production schedules and customer delivery commitments.

Coordinate the preparation and shipment of customer samples when needed.

Facilities and Equipment Establish preventive-maintenance practices that support production uptime and reliable equipment performance.

Coordinate machinery troubleshooting, repairs, spare…