Operations Manager

A leading paper and packaging manufacturer is seeking an Operations Manager in Georgia to join its team. This is an opportunity to lead a manufacturing operation focused on safety, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and employee development. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced industrial environment and has a proven track record of developing teams, driving performance, and delivering business results.

The Operations Manager will be responsible for:

• Champion a culture of safety, ownership, and operational excellence throughout the facility.
• Drive production performance through process optimization, reliability improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop salaried and hourly operations teams.
• Manage facility financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and KPI management.
• Utilize Root Cause Analysis (RCA), disciplined operations, and maintenance strategies to improve performance.
• Build accountability and employee engagement while driving a culture of continuous improvement.
• Partner with maintenance, reliability, and other functional teams to maximize operational effectiveness.
• Lead change management efforts and support long-term business objectives.

The Operations Manager should have the following qualifications:

• 5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience within paper, packaging, corrugated, pulp & paper, or other heavy industrial environments.
• Proven ability to lead teams and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and employee development.
• Experience managing production operations and improving safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost performance.
• Strong experience utilizing KPIs, budgeting, forecasting, and data-driven decision making.
• Experience leading change, driving engagement, and managing both salaried and hourly employees.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with Root Cause Analysis (RCA), continuous improvement, and operational excellence methodologies preferred.