Senior Operations Manager

Job Title: Sr. Operations Manager Job Description The Sr. Operations Manager leads a large production manufacturing operation with a strong machining, fabrication, and welding focus, driving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance through effective leadership, lean practices, and data-driven decision-making. This role provides strategic and hands-on oversight of production teams, process technology, automation initiatives, and departmental budgeting while developing leaders and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities Provide effective leadership coaching to Production Team Leaders and Team Captains to strengthen their leadership and supervisory capabilities. Coach production teams on appropriate Lean tools and methods to drive continuous improvement in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. Ensure teams have clear visibility to key performance indicators for daily management and promptly escalate and address abnormalities.

Provide oversight and guidance on the future roadmap for process technology and automation within the operation. Utilize data-driven processes and metrics to achieve key performance objectives and improve operational efficiency. Manage departmental staffing levels, performance, labor utilization, and overtime metrics for a workforce of approximately 150 employees across first and second shifts. Support Team Leaders in planning and facilitating monthly team meetings to promote strong communication, collaboration, process improvements, and goal attainment.

Partner with Human Resources on employee relations issues, policy administration, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives. Lead and coach both direct and indirect teams to ensure key project management activities deliver measurable benefits to the operation. Ensure all required welding certifications and compliance requirements are met for applicable processes within the operation. Develop and maintain the annual departmental budget, including planning and oversight of capital equipment deployment.

Promote and maintain shop floor organization and plant cleanliness through 5S practices and standards. Oversee machining, welding, and metal fabrication operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production output. Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence across all shifts and functional areas. Essential Skills Minimum of 10 years of management experience in a production manufacturing environment.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field with broad technical and leadership experience in production manufacturing. Strong experience in machining and/or welding and metal fabrication operations. Proven experience leading large teams, including oversight of approximately 150 employees across multiple shifts. Demonstrated ability to apply Lean manufacturing tools and methodologies to drive continuous improvement.

Strong management skills with experience in staffing, performance management, labor planning, and overtime control. Ability to use data-driven processes and metrics to manage operations and achieve key performance objectives. Experience developing and managing departmental budgets, including capital equipment planning and deployment. Capability to ensure compliance with welding certifications and process requirements.

Effective communication and coaching skills to develop leaders and foster collaboration. Experience working in a production manufacturing environment with significant machining, fabrication, and welding components. Additional Skills & Qualifications Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Demonstrated history of Lean tool deployment in a production environment. Prior hands-on experience in machining and/or welding operations.

Experience leading automation or process technology initiatives. Experience in continuous improvement programs, including 5S and shop floor organization. Ability to partner effectively with Human Resources on employee relations, hi