Area Leader, Manufacturing Operations & Excellence

VetJobs; Hodges (SC); On-site; USD 97,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive Company in Hodges, South Carolina seeks an Area Leader in Operations to drive safety, quality and efficiency across key production areas. You will coach frontline supervisors, optimize asset use and lead cross-functional projects with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.

The role requires 7+ years of manufacturing leadership (or 5+ years with a Master’s), knowledge of SAP/WMS, and a bias for continuous improvement in a high-speed environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field with a minimum of seven years of manufacturing experience, OR a Master’s degree with five years.
• Supervisory experience managing teams in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical and chemical fields and plant equipment.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
• Proficiency in digital productivity suites (Google Workspace or Microsoft Office).

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams by directing daily operations through frontline leaders and technicians.
• Drive Operational Excellence with continuous improvement and reliability programs.
• Champion Safety & Environmental Standards, ensuring compliance and zero-incident culture.
• Ensure Product Quality & Regulatory Compliance, overseeing GMP and root-cause investigations.
• Manage Operational Budgets & Cost Optimization, driving labor efficiency and material utilization.
• Deliver Technology Transfers & Product Launches with cross-functional partners.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Leadership coaching

Cross functional collaboration

Strategic cost management

Continuous improvement

ERPs (SAP)

WMS

Google Workspace / MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

SAP

WMS

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Colgate-Palmolive Company in Hodges, South Carolina seeks an Area Leader in Operations to drive safety, quality and efficiency across key production areas. You will coach frontline supervisors, optimize asset use and lead cross-functional projects with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.

The role requires 7+ years of manufacturing leadership (or 5+ years with a Master’s), knowledge of SAP/WMS, and a bias for continuous improvement in a high-speed environment.