Manufacturing Operations Lead - Lean, Quality & Delivery

Safariland; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Employer paid life insurance and AD&D

Employer paid disability

Wellness program

Adoption assistance

Tuition assistance

Employee assistance program

Work life balance

Paid time off

Job summary

Safariland seeks an Operations Manager to lead day‑to‑day manufacturing operations in a ballistic and hard armor production facility. The role will deploy the Operating Model, ensure finished goods quality, and guarantee on‑time delivery while driving continuous improvement and team accountability.

You will partner with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and EHS to maintain safe, compliant operations and develop a high‑performing manufacturing culture through coaching and clear expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, including direct leadership of supervisors.
• Demonstrated experience improving on‑time delivery and finished goods quality.
• Strong working knowledge of Operating Model / Lean manufacturing principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production execution across assigned lines, cells, or value streams.
• Own performance to the production plan, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
• Provide direct leadership, coaching, and development to Production Supervisors.
• Ensure consistent deployment of the Operating Model, including standard work, visual management, tiered daily meetings, and structured problem‑solving.
• Partner with Quality to investigate non‑conformances and drive root cause corrective actions.
• Maintain compliance with applicable customer requirements, industry standards (e.g., NIJ or equivalent), and internal quality systems.
• Promote and sustain a strong safety culture through visible leadership, audits, and corrective actions.
• Ensure on‑time delivery through effective scheduling, labor planning, and capacity management.
• Identify and manage constraints, bottlenecks, and material availability risks.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Engineering to resolve shortages, changes, and production disruptions.
• Use metrics and data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead Kaizen events and improvement projects focused on throughput, quality, labor efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Set performance expectations and hold team accountable for results.
• Partner with HR on hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee relations.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and clear communication across production teams and functional partners.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Problem solving

Quality compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Safariland seeks an Operations Manager to lead day‑to‑day manufacturing operations in a ballistic and hard armor production facility. The role will deploy the Operating Model, ensure finished goods quality, and guarantee on‑time delivery while driving continuous improvement and team accountability.

You will partner with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and EHS to maintain safe, compliant operations and develop a high‑performing manufacturing culture through coaching and clear expectations.