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.