Assistant Operations Manager

Assistant Operations Manager

Steelhead Metal Corp. – Nampa, Idaho
Full-Time | On-Site | Manufacturing Leadership

About Steelhead Metal

Steelhead Metal Corp. is an established and growing precision manufacturing company located in Nampa, Idaho. We specialize in precision sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, laser cutting, welding, powder coating, and related manufacturing services.

We serve customers across a variety of demanding industries, providing high-quality manufactured components and assemblies. Our success is built on our people, technical capabilities, commitment to quality, and ability to meet customer expectations.

We are seeking a motivated, organized, and results-driven Assistant Operations Manager to help lead our production teams and improve the overall efficiency and performance of our manufacturing operations.

Position Overview

The Assistant Operations Manager will work closely with the Operations Manager to oversee daily manufacturing activities, manage production personnel, identify opportunities for operational improvement, and ensure that customer orders are completed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.

This is a hands-on leadership position requiring someone who is comfortable spending significant time on the production floor, working directly with supervisors and employees, solving problems, and holding teams accountable for results.

The ideal candidate is a proactive leader who can identify problems before they become larger issues, implement practical solutions, and help establish the processes and accountability necessary to support continued company growth.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management & Scheduling

• Assist in overseeing daily operations across CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, welding, powder coating, and other production departments.
• Work with department supervisors to establish production priorities and ensure jobs progress through manufacturing as scheduled.
• Monitor production schedules, work-in-process, capacity constraints, and potential delivery delays.
• Identify and resolve production bottlenecks, equipment constraints, and workflow inefficiencies.
• Coordinate resources, personnel, and equipment to maximize throughput and meet customer delivery commitments.
• Help ensure jobs are properly prepared, scheduled, and released to production.

Employee Leadership & Accountability

• Provide daily leadership and support to production supervisors, leads, and employees.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold employees accountable for productivity, workmanship, attendance, and adherence to company procedures.
• Assist with employee training, development, performance evaluations, and disciplinary matters.
• Promote a positive, professional work environment built on teamwork, communication, and personal accountability.
• Address employee and departmental issues promptly and professionally.

Continuous Improvement & Efficiency

• Evaluate existing manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and eliminate waste.
• Develop and implement improvements to production workflows, material handling, scheduling, and departmental coordination.
• Analyze labor efficiency, machine utilization, setup times, and production performance.
• Help establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for productivity, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Lead initiatives to improve manufacturing consistency, reduce rework, and increase overall operational efficiency.
• Encourage employees and supervisors to identify and implement practical process improvements.

Quality & Customer Delivery

• Work closely with the Quality Department to ensure products meet customer specifications and company quality standards.
• Help address quality issues, nonconforming product, and corrective actions.
• Ensure production employees follow established work instructions, drawings, and inspection requirements.
• Monitor open jobs and proactively address issues that could jeopardize committed delivery dates.
• Coordinate with customer service, purchasing, engineering, and programming to resolve production-related issues.
• Support Steelhead's ISO 9001 quality management system and continuous improvement objectives.

Operational Oversight

• Assist the Operations Manager with departmental planning, workload balancing, and resource allocation.
• Monitor equipment needs, maintenance issues, and operational readiness.
• Support implementation and effective use of the company's ERP system, JobBOSS.
• Improve communication and coordination between production departments and office personnel.
• Provide regular updates to management regarding production performance, staffing, scheduling, and operational challenges.
• Assume additional operational responsibilities as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Prior supervisory, team leadership, or manufacturing management experience.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage employees, establish priorities, and hold teams accountable.
• Experience with production scheduling, workflow management, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Ability to read and understand manufacturing drawings and production documentation.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with computers and manufacturing ERP systems.
• Excellent work ethic.

Preferred

• Experience in precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, or contract manufacturing.
• Familiarity with CNC machining, laser cutting, welding, or powder coating processes.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing principles or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience with JobBOSS or similar manufacturing ERP software.
• Experience managing multiple production departments and competing priorities.

What We're Looking For

Beyond technical experience, we are looking for someone who demonstrates:

• Leadership: Willingness to make decisions, address problems directly, and hold employees accountable.
• Initiative: Ability to recognize opportunities for improvement and take action without constant direction.
• Organization: Skill in managing multiple priorities and maintaining visibility over production activities.
• Problem-Solving: A practical, solutions-oriented approach to manufacturing challenges.
• Accountability: Ownership of results, including productivity, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Communication: Ability to work effectively with employees, supervisors, management, and other departments.
• Continuous Improvement: A genuine interest in making manufacturing processes more efficient and effective.

What Steelhead Offers

• Competitive compensation based on qualifications and experience.
• Company-paid Health insurance and company benefits.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Guaranteed company 401K contributions & profit sharing
• A stable, established manufacturing company with continued growth opportunities.
• Modern manufacturing equipment and a diverse range of production capabilities.
• A collaborative management team that values initiative, accountability, and results.
• Compensation - Range listed in this post is negotiable and not intended to be a cap. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's skill set, experience and performance.

Apply Today

If you are an experienced manufacturing leader who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and helping production teams succeed, we encourage you to apply.

Please submit your resume and a brief summary of your manufacturing leadership experience.

Pay: $50,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person