Operations Manager

The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all front-end and back-end production activities to ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality operations. This role provides direct leadership to Shift Supervisors and drives process improvements across the production environment. The Operations Manager collaborates closely with cross-functional departments—including Quality, Product Development, Planning, Continuous Improvement (CI), and Maintenance—to support production goals, operational excellence, and organizational growth. This leader also facilitates regular operations meetings and contributes to project-related and improvement-focused discussions. This role is essential to executing the company’s plans, and you play a key part in ensuring we uphold the values on which the organization was founded.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Oversee daily front-end and back-end production operations to meet safety, quality, and productivity targets.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Shift Supervisors, ensuring consistent execution of production plans and alignment with company standards.
• Drive continuous process improvements to enhance workflow efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize overall operational performance.
• Partners with cross-functional teams such as Quality, Product Development, Planning, CI, and Maintenance to support new initiatives, resolve issues, and improve processes.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly operations meetings, providing updates on performance, challenges, and action items.
• Support and lead project-based work, including equipment upgrades, process changes, and major operational improvements.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilize data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements across all production activities.
• Partner with the Inventory Control Specialist to improve processes within SAP, develop end-user training, implement system updates, and drive overall efficiency.
• Promote a strong culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in workforce planning, including staffing decisions, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Flexible and adaptable, able to provide supervisor coverage as needed when time-off or staffing changes occur.
• Responsible for developing and managing the departmental budget to ensure costs remain within planned annual targets, while also adjusting strategies as needed to reduce expenses during high-cost periods.
• Other responsibilities as determined by the Director.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The following list that follows is representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required: 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
  
  

Experience:

• 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, production, or operations, including at least 3 years directly managing and developing people leaders (e.g., Shift Supervisors).
• Demonstrated success in coaching, mentoring, and elevating people leaders to strengthen performance, accountability, and teamwork across multiple shifts or departments.
• Proven experience leading daily operations in a fast-paced environment, with strong understanding of production workflows, safety protocols, and quality standards.
• Experience driving process improvements, implementing operational changes, and achieving measurable results through continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, or similar).
• Strong background collaborating with cross-functional partners such as Quality, Maintenance, Planning, CI, and Product Development.
• Experience managing departmental budgets, monitoring KPIs, and using data to guide operational decisions.
• Prior experience working with ERP systems, preferably SAP, including supporting system improvements or training end users, is highly desirable.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to develop and empower people leaders while building a high-performance culture grounded in accountability and transparency.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to troubleshoot operational challenges, manage competing priorities, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong understanding of safety regulations, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to lead effective meetings, drive alignment, and ensure clear follow-through on actions and commitments.
• Highly adaptable and capable of providing leadership coverage as operational needs shift.
  
  

The Good Stuff – Benefits

Our team members' physical and mental health is important to a thriving workplace. That’s why we offer the following benefits to full-time employees:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance offered for eligible employees
• 401(k) plan with a company match that vest on day 1 of eligibility
• Paid vacation
• Paid time off
• Holiday pay (11 days)
• Paid short-term disability
• Paid life insurance
• Banfield Pet Insurance Discounts
• Wellness Benefits and Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
  
  

EEO

We are committed to an inclusive workplace where diversity in all its forms is championed. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we are an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.



Privacy Policy

Mars and its family of brands is committed to transparency and responsibility in how we handle the personal data entrusted to us by our customers and consumers. To learn more about our privacy policy please follow this link.