Interim Operations Manager

About the Company

Headquartered in Hillside, IL, Cognesense is a worldwide environmental technology company built through the combination of heritage brands, including L&J Technologies, Shand & Jurs, Varec, Sonitus Systems, Petrel, Ex-tech, Pyroban, and Pyropress, that together represent over a century of domain expertise. Under the positioning “Measure. Monitor. Protect.,” Cognesense delivers measurement and instrumentation, safety equipment, automation, and software (including its Clairvoyance and FuelsManager® platforms) to customers in over 100 countries across energy production and storage, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, water and wastewater, aviation fuel, aerospace and defense, food and beverage, and other regulated, high-stakes end markets.

About the Role

Role Mandate The Interim Operations Manager exists to run the Peachtree Corners, GA manufacturing site through its planned consolidation into Hillside, IL. The role does two jobs at once: keep the site building and shipping on schedule, and take it apart in a controlled way so production restarts at Hillside without a gap for customers. You will lead the Atlanta production and site staff and report weekly to the Director of Operations. The physical move begins November 2, 2026, with first production at Hillside targeted for November 30 and the Atlanta site closed out by December 31. This is a full-time contract engagement starting as soon as possible, ideally before October 30, 2026 to allow overlap, and running through December 31, 2026, with a possible short extension.

Position Responsibilities

Keep Production and Shipments on Track

• When keeping the site shipping conflicts with taking it apart, shipping wins until the build-ahead inventory is banked.
• Run day-to-day manufacturing at the Atlanta site: scheduling, labor, material flow and on-time delivery.
• Execute a 6+ week build-ahead on top-moving products, banked before teardown starts.
• Review past-due and Q4 backlog line by line and issue reliable ship dates.
• Support customer communication through the move window.
• Drive cross-training so no complex build depends on a single person.

Inventory and Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)

• Execute the count, barcode and packing-manifest plan with the Inventory Manager.
• Keep GFE segregated, labeled and traceable by program and contract, with custody documented through transport.
• Reconcile moved inventory into Business Central at Hillside.

Quality and Compliance

• Have site records and procedures ready for the ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit in the week of October 27.
• Work with Quality to integrate Atlanta procedures into the Hillside quality system.

Teardown, Transport and Recommissioning

• Sequence equipment teardown so the highest-volume builds run longest.
• Coordinate riggers, transport and insurance with Purchasing and Facilities.
• Execute the site decommissioning checklist: utility disconnects, hazmat removal and landlord handback items.
• Support reinstall and requalification at Hillside through the first production build.

People and Site Close-Out

• Lead the Atlanta team through the transition, working with HR on retention and exit timing.
• Capture build knowledge, supplier contacts and undocumented fixes before people leave.
• Complete the final building walk-through and handback by December 31.
• Report weekly to the Director of Operations, and join a daily move standup during November.

How We Measure Success

Success is measured against three milestones and a set of ongoing measures through the engagement.

• Ready to move (Oct 30, 2026): Build-ahead banked, GFE segregated, rigging and transport booked, ISO audit complete.
• Operational at Hillside (Nov30, 2026): Equipment requalified, first build complete, inventory reconciled in Business Central.
• Site closed out (Dec 31, 2026): Building handed back, staff transitions complete.
• Build-ahead and backlog: Build-ahead banked vs. plan; past-due backlog trending down.
• Shipments and inventory: Shipments held through the move window; inventory variance on arrival minimized.
• Team retention: Key staff retained through their committed dates.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years in manufacturing operations, including at least 3 years as a plant, operations or manufacturing manager.
• Hands-on experience with a plant relocation, consolidation or closure, from build-ahead through recommissioning.
• Discrete or electromechanical assembly experience; low-volume, high-mix preferred.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality systems and audit preparation.
• Strong inventory control discipline: cycle counts, barcoding, ERP reconciliation.
• Available to start quickly and work on site full time, with travel to the Chicago area.

Required Skills

• Manufacturing operations leadership.
• Plant relocation, consolidation or closure execution.
• Discrete or electromechanical assembly in low-volume, high-mix environments.
• ISO 9001 quality systems and audit preparation.
• Inventory control, including cycle counts, barcoding, and ERP reconciliation.
• On-site, full-time availability with travel to the Chicago area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or similar ERP experience.
• Experience handling government-furnished equipment or property under contract requirements.
• Familiarity with product certifications such as UL, FM, ATEX or CSA.
• Lean manufacturing background.
• Prior interim or consulting engagements with a defined end date.

How You Work

▪ You lead a team through change calmly and keep people engaged while a site winds down.

▪ You protect the customer first: shipments come before teardown until the build-ahead is banked.

▪ You document as you go, so knowledge stays with the business after people leave.

▪ You use AI and system tools to keep plans current, and spend your own time on the floor and with people.