Operations Manager

Position Title: Operations Manager

Reports To: Business Unit Manager

Location: Bryan, Ohio (multi-site oversight: US & Mexico)

Direct Reports: Plant Managers

Our client is a division of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer with roughly $14 billion in global revenue, operations in 57 countries, and a portfolio of more than 16,000 active patents. Within that global enterprise, this business unit is a focused automotive supplier engineering and manufacturing thermal-management and fluid-handling components — including thermal management systems, fluid routing and handling products, molded plastic and elastomer components, and valves, connectors, and related assemblies that support internal-combustion, hybrid, and battery-electric vehicle platforms.

The business unit operates multiple manufacturing locations across the United States and Mexico. This role has full accountability for integrating operations across those sites — production, materials, engineering, and logistics.. As the business enters a period of change and renewed focus, it needs an Operations Manager who can set the pace across sites, build a strong plant leadership bench, and translate strategy into consistent day-to-day results.

Set the agenda. Build the bench. Raise the bar across every site.

This is not a caretaker role — it's ownership of a multi-site operating agenda, with the authority to align every plant function around one set of priorities. You'll set expectations, remove barriers that individual sites can't resolve on their own, and build a leadership team that performs today and is stronger a year from now.

• Multi-site ownership — set the Operations agenda across several manufacturing sites, not a single plant or function

• Backed by Fortune 500 scale — the resources, tooling, and career runway of a global industrial leader, with real autonomy over how the business unit runs

• Genuine integration authority — set priorities, hold Plant Managers and site leaders accountable, and resolve cross-functional and systemic barriers directly

• A recognized leadership pipeline — this role is positioned to grow into broader Operations Director scope for a strong performer

• A business in transition — significant runway to modernize systems, simplify the footprint, and build a bench of newer leaders into strong operators

Integrate Operations

• Oversee multiple operational functions across sites — production, materials, engineering, and logistics

• Ensure processes are aligned to deliver quality, efficiency, and customer outcomes

• Connect day-to-day execution at each site to broader business priorities

Drive Continuous Improvement (80/20)

• Apply 80/20 thinking to prioritize resources and simplify operations across the network

• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve cost, quality, and delivery

• Solve complex, multi-site operational issues and implement solutions that scale

Lead Teams & Build Capability

• Lead Plant Managers, functional leaders, supervisors, and professional staff

• Develop team capability and strengthen the operations talent pipeline, including where long-tenured leaders are approaching retirement

• Promote accountability and data-driven decision-making

Support Business Performance

• Contribute to planning, reporting, and operational reviews

• Provide input into business decisions, product and process improvements, and resource allocation

• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949; ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 (OH&S); OSHA and applicable regulatory requirements

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead, coach, and develop Plant Managers and site leadership teams

• Establish consistent expectations for accountability and performance management across sites

• Promote a culture focused on safety, continuous…