Operations Manager

• Hands-on leader who thrives on building structure and improving operations.
• Entrepreneurial mentality with the ability to drive change and accountability.

About Our Client

A leading manufacturer of outdoor products. Blending Italian engineering with American manufacturing, they create custom solutions for both homes and businesses.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Operational Transformation

• Lead the transition from a traditional assembly shop to a structured industrial production environment.
• Design and implement scalable manufacturing processes, workflows, and production standards.
• Develop production KPIs, reporting systems, and performance dashboards.
• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and quality control processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, throughput, labor productivity, waste reduction, and operational excellence.

Production Management

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations including production scheduling at two locations assembly, fabrication, inventory management, shipping, and plant organization.
• Ensure production targets, delivery timelines, and quality standards are consistently achieved.
• Optimize labor utilization and staffing levels to support growth objectives.
• Improve plant layout, workflow, and material handling to maximize productivity and safety.
• Coordinate closely with purchasing, customer service and engineering teams to ensure smooth operational execution.

Lean Manufacturing & Process Improvement

• Implement lean manufacturing principles including 5S, visual management, standardized work, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to improve production flow.
• Introduce production planning systems, capacity management, and operational controls.
• Lead initiatives related to automation, equipment upgrades, and process industrialization where appropriate.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performance operations team focused on accountability, collaboration, and execution.
• Mentor supervisors and production personnel to elevate operational discipline and technical capabilities.
• Establish measurable performance expectations and conduct regular team evaluations.
• Foster a culture of safety, ownership, and continuous improvement throughout the facility.

Quality & Safety

• Ensure compliance with all safety regulations and company standards.
• Develop and enforce quality assurance procedures to reduce defects and rework.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives related to production or quality issues.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safety-focused manufacturing environment.

The Successful Applicant

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred.
• 5-10+ years of manufacturing operations leadership experience.
• Proven success transforming or scaling manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience implementing ERP, production scheduling, or manufacturing tracking systems is a plus.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial manufacturing environment.

What's on Offer

Competitive salary and benefits package.

Contact

Michelle Principi

Quote job ref

JN-072026-7063364