Manager, Manufacturing Operations

Job Summary

The Manager, Manufacturing Operations is responsible for ensuring a safe, compliant, and high‑performance work environment while leading all day‑to‑day production activities. This role drives operational excellence by consistently meeting and exceeding production goals, enforcing rigorous safety and quality standards, and leading continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen efficiency, reliability, and alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives.

• Lead production planning, scheduling, and daily operations to ensure capacity alignment, on‑time delivery, and achievement of cost, schedule, and quality targets.
• Drive a proactive safety culture and ensure full compliance with environmental, safety, and quality management systems through audits, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Ensure workforce readiness by managing staffing levels, overseeing multiple shifts, and developing and mentoring supervisors and team members to meet evolving production demands.
• Maintain equipment reliability by partnering with maintenance on preventive maintenance programs to minimize downtime and maximize asset performance.
• Establish and enforce standard work, operating procedures, and work instructions to ensure consistent, disciplined operations and audit readiness.
• Partner cross‑functionally with engineering, quality, supply chain, and maintenance to resolve issues quickly and support seamless execution of production plans.
• Ensure material availability and inventory optimization by working with supply chain to mitigate shortages and maintain production continuity.
• Leverage Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), analytics, and digital tools to monitor performance, drive accountability, and implement corrective actions that enhance efficiency and productivity.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives including 6S, waste reduction, lean processes, and scrap elimination to drive operational excellence.
• Communicate operational performance, risks, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and lead organizational change initiatives for new products, processes, and equipment.
• Manage operational budgets, labor utilization, and cost‑reduction initiatives to ensure financial performance aligns with operating plans.
• Translate customer requirements and Voice of the Customer feedback into operational improvements that enhance product quality, delivery performance, and overall customer satisfaction.
• Adhere to federal and state regulations.
• Adhere to all company policies, processes, and procedures.
• Performs other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.
• Predictable and reliable attendance.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in operations management within a manufacturing environment.
• Working experience with Quality & Reliability disciplines, including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Six Sigma, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), and Eight Disciplines Problem Solving (8D).
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems required, with PLEX preferred. Knowledge of Technical Specification 16949 (TS 16949) and International Organization for Standardization 14001 (ISO 14001) standards.
• Prior experience with motor vehicle programs (automotive, heavy truck); PHEV/BEV experience preferred.
• Ability to manage change, prioritize tasks, and realign resources effectively.
• Understanding of Theory of Constraints and its practical application.
• Knowledge of safety, environmental, and facility regulations.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization, combined with strong proficiency in computer applications and data-driven decision‑making.

• Focuses on Quality:
  Drives work results with quality focus in actions and results.
• Decision Making & Analysis:
  Makes sound decisions based upon a mixture of data‑driven analysis, expertise, experience, and judgment; collects relevant information, seeking input from…