Operations Manager

Schedule: Monday-Friday | Approximately 7:00 AM-4:00 PM

Work Environment: Full-time, onsite in Aplington, Iowa

A growing manufacturing company is seeking a hands-on Operations Manager to oversee daily manufacturing operations while partnering closely with executive leadership to improve efficiency, production flow, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance. This individual will lead day-to-day operations across production, shipping, scheduling, inventory, purchasing, and customer order fulfillment while driving continuous improvement initiatives and helping build scalable operational processes. The ideal candidate is a servant leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and enjoys rolling up their sleeves to solve problems alongside the team.

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to ensure production schedules, quality standards, and customer delivery commitments are achieved.
• Lead production, warehouse, shipping, receiving, and operational personnel while promoting accountability, teamwork, and employee development.
• Coordinate production scheduling, labor planning, and workflow to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime.
• Partner with purchasing and inventory teams to ensure material availability and accurate inventory levels.
• Monitor production metrics, labor utilization, throughput, scrap, and operational KPIs while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Implement and improve standard operating procedures, workflows, and operational best practices.
• Collaborate with sales, customer service, and executive leadership to prioritize customer orders and resolve production challenges.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies, quality standards, and operational procedures.
• Assist with hiring, coaching, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, and cost reduction.
• Serve as a key operational leader supporting the company's continued growth and modernization efforts.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of manufacturing operations, production management, or plant leadership experience.
• Experience supervising production and warehouse teams within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, inventory management, purchasing, and manufacturing workflows.
• Experience improving operational processes through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies is preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Comfortable working in a hands‑on, entrepreneurial environment where adaptability and initiative are highly valued.
• Experience with ERP or manufacturing software systems is preferred.

Competitive salary, annual performance bonus opportunity, paid time off, employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), and the opportunity to join a growing manufacturing organization where you'll have direct visibility with executive leadership and the ability to make a meaningful impact on future operations.