Operations Supervisor

Operations Supervisor

Location: Laurel, Mississippi

Schedule: Monday–Friday, primarily first shift; flexibility required to support a 24/7 operation

Compensation: $110,000–$120,000 base salary 12% annual bonus

Relocation Assistance: Available

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Position Overview

A growing aerospace manufacturing operation in the Laurel area is seeking an Operations Cell Lead to oversee the safety, quality, delivery, and overall performance of a specialized production cell.

This operation applies advanced coatings and thermal processes to critical jet-engine components. The Operations Cell Lead will manage approximately 11–12 employees, including two Team Leaders and a team of Operations Technicians. The position is highly visible and will work directly with a major aerospace customer while partnering internally with engineering, quality, training, and plant leadership.

This is a hands-on leadership position with approximately 80% of the work performed on the production floor and 20% involving administrative responsibilities, customer meetings, presentations, and project management. The company is open to an experienced Production or Operations Supervisor who is ready to advance into a broader operations-management role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the daily safety, quality, delivery, cost, and personnel performance of an aerospace production cell.
• Ensure daily production goals and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
• Lead shop-floor meetings covering production priorities, safety expectations, quality concerns, process changes, and operational updates.
• Manage approximately 11–12 employees, including two Team Leaders and 9–10 Operations Technicians.
• Coach and develop Team Leaders while establishing clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Provide timely feedback, performance reviews, and corrective action when necessary.
• Create and adjust staffing and production schedules based on workload, customer demand, and changing priorities.
• Monitor overtime, staffing coverage, production flow, and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a primary operational contact for a major aerospace customer.
• Participate in customer conference calls, presentations, workflow discussions, and continuous-improvement reviews.
• Drive Lean manufacturing, waste reduction, process improvement, and operational-excellence initiatives.
• Partner with engineering, quality, training, maintenance, and other production teams to resolve operational issues.
• Ensure employees are properly trained and cross-trained to support production requirements.
• Lead or support business-unit projects involving safety, quality, productivity, cost, and team development.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and applicable certifications.
• Support a 24/7 manufacturing operation and adjust working hours when operational needs require it.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, operations management, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Candidates without a degree may be considered based on significant manufacturing leadership experience.
• Four or more years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or eight or more years of manufacturing leadership experience without a degree.
• Previous leadership experience in operations, production, process improvement, or technical manufacturing.
• Experience supervising Team Leaders, Production Supervisors, Operators, or Technicians.
• Strong understanding of safety, quality, production scheduling, staffing, and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience applying Lean manufacturing or continuous-improvement principles.
• Strong customer-facing communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with operators, technical teams, senior leadership, and major customers.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage shifting production priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
• Ability to support a continuous manufacturing operation outside normal working hours when necessary.

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace, automotive, medical-device, metal-processing, coatings, heat-treating, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience manufacturing or processing precision components.
• Exposure to thermal processing, coatings, metal finishing, or rotating engine components.
• Experience working directly with major customers or OEMs.
• Experience delivering operational presentations and production updates.
• Demonstrated success developing frontline leaders and improving team performance.
• Experience implementing Lean projects, standard work, visual management, or structured problem-solving initiatives.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Competitive salary of $110,000–$120,000 plus a 12% annual bonus.
• Relocation assistance is available.
• Monday–Friday leadership schedule.
• Opportunity to enter or continue growing within aerospace manufacturing.
• Highly visible role working directly with a major aerospace customer.
• Growing facility expected to expand substantially over the next several years.
• Hands-on leadership environment without a micromanagement culture.
• Access to the resources and advancement opportunities of a large global organization.
• Comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k) and pension plan.