Operations Manager

Operations Manager - Job Summary 

Reports To: Director of Operations / VP of Operations 
FLSA Status: Exempt 

Position Overview 

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading all day-to-day manufacturing operations across aerosol filling, liquid filling, converting, assembly, kitting, packaging, and related production processes. This role oversees Production, Planning & Scheduling, and Operations Support teams to ensure the safe, efficient, and profitable execution of manufacturing activities while meeting customer requirements for quality, cost, and delivery. The role serves as a key leader in aligning customer demand, production capacity, workforce resources, material availability, and inventory strategies to achieve business objectives. 

Key Responsibilities 

Operations & Manufacturing Leadership 

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, productivity, cost, and delivery goals. 

• Manage production performance through key metrics including OEE, labor efficiency, throughput, schedule attainment, waste reduction, inventory accuracy, and on-time delivery. 

• Optimize utilization of labor, equipment, and facility resources. 

• Ensure staffing levels, workforce performance, and operational resources align with business requirements. 

Production Planning & Scheduling 

• Direct the Planning and Scheduling function to ensure efficient alignment of customer demand with manufacturing capacity. 

• Develop and maintain production schedules that maximize machine utilization, labor efficiency, and material availability. 

• Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), capacity planning, forecasting, and inventory management. 

• Monitor schedule performance and implement corrective actions to address constraints and bottlenecks. 

• Maintain accurate ERP planning data, routings, and work center information. 

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence 

• Champion Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives. 

• Lead waste reduction, process optimization, downtime reduction, and productivity improvement efforts. 

• Utilize root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies to eliminate recurring operational issues. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. 

Quality, Safety & Compliance 

• Partner with Quality leadership to ensure products meet customer and regulatory requirements. 

• Support ISO, GMP, and quality management system compliance. 

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company regulations. 

• Lead investigations and corrective actions for safety and quality incidents. 

Financial & Business Management 

• Manage operational spending, labor costs, conversion costs, and material utilization within budget targets. 

• Support capital planning, cost reduction efforts, and profitability improvement initiatives. 

• Identify opportunities for investments that improve safety, quality, capacity, and productivity. 

Cross-Functional Leadership 

• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Purchasing, Customer Service, Sales, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and Human Resources. 

• Support equipment reliability, new product introductions, process improvements, and operational strategy execution. 

• Leverage ERP systems and operational analytics to improve decision-making and reporting. 

Leadership Responsibilities 

The Operations Manager directly supervises Production Supervisors, Production Planning/Scheduling personnel, Shift Leaders, and Operations Support staff, with overall responsibility for a workforce of approximately 50 employees. 

Key leadership responsibilities include: 

• Hiring, onboarding, training, and employee development 

• Performance management and coaching 

• Workforce planning and staffing 

• Employee engagement and retention 

• Succession planning and leadership development 

• Corrective action and disciplinary processes 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, business, or related field. 

• Minimum 7 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience. 

• Minimum 3 years leading supervisors, managers, planners, and operational teams. 

• Experience in aerosol converting, liquid filling, assembly, kitting, packaging, or related manufacturing environments. 

• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, production planning, ERP systems, and manufacturing KPIs.