Job Overview

The Senior Operations Manager is a strategic operations leader responsible for driving performance across multiple operational value streams in a manufacturing environment. This role provides leadership for end-to-end execution across Production, Warehouse, and other assigned operations functions, ensuring strong delivery in safety, quality, customer service, cost, and employee engagement.

This leader will be expected to strengthen and evolve the operating management system by developing new processes, standardizing execution across shifts and departments, and applying data-driven decision-making to improve throughput, quality, inventory performance, labor efficiency, and accountability. The role requires a strong people leader with demonstrated success in talent assessment, leadership development, frontline engagement, conflict resolution, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is an experienced operations leader who is close to readiness for a Plant Manager role within 1 to 2 years, with the capability to lead broad plant priorities, influence cross-functional strategy, and build a culture of accountability, discipline, and respect.

Job Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & Business Performance
• Operating System & Process Development
• Data, Analytics & Digital Management
• Talent Assessment, Coaching & Leadership Development
• Frontline Engagement & Accountability Culture
• Conflict Management & Work Environment
• Continuous Improvement & Manufacturing Excellence
• Cross-Functional Leadership

Key Performance Expectations

• Safety performance and EHS leadership
• Customer complaints / quality performance
• Production attainment / schedule attainment
• OEE and productivity improvement 
• Labor efficiency and cost performance
• Inventory accuracy and materials flow discipline
• Employee engagement and retention
• Leadership bench strength and succession readiness
• Effectiveness of operating reviews, action closure, and accountability systems

What your background should look like

Education

•    Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field required with 10+ years of experience ; Master's degree is preferred.

Experience

•    The successful candidate must possess an extensive operational background that extends beyond production management (a mandatory requirement), as well as management leadership experience in one or more manufacturing support functions such as supply chain, warehouse operations, manufacturing engineering, quality or continuous improvement.
•    Experience leading both results delivery and organizational capability building in a plant environment.
•    Proven success implementing process improvements, standardization, and performance systems in operations.
•    Demonstrated experience developing leaders, assessing talent, and building succession capability.
•    Strong experience engaging frontline employees and improving accountability and work culture.
•    Experience managing conflict and driving performance in fast-paced industrial environments.
•    Strong working knowledge of manufacturing excellence tools and systems, including Lean Manufacturing, OEE, PFMEA, Six Sigma, and structured problem solving.
•    Strong business acumen and ability to use data and analytics to drive operational decisions.
•    Readiness and aspiration to move into Plant Management in the near term.

Competencies