Manufacturing Operations Manager

Blue Signal Search; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Job summary

Blue Signal Search seeks a floor-focused operations leader for a growing specialty manufacturer in Atlanta, GA. You will own the full manufacturing flow, develop frontline leaders, and improve how work moves between departments to boost delivery performance, quality, and productivity.

This hands-on role requires 5–10+ years in manufacturing, experience supervising teams, and strong knowledge of production scheduling or ERP.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of hands-on manufacturing or production experience, including supervising teams.
• Experience coordinating multiple production stages toward shared deadlines.
• Lean, 5S, or Kaizen knowledge is a plus.
• Capable of working on-site in Atlanta and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end production activities, ensuring smooth flow across stages.
• Build daily/weekly production plans around backlog and customer commitments.
• Develop frontline supervisors and leads with clear performance expectations.
• Identify floor constraints in real time and adjust labor/sequencing to protect delivery.

Skills

People management

Cross-functional coordination

Problem solving on the floor

Production scheduling

Lean manufacturing

Hands-on leadership

Capacity planning

Safety and Kaizen

Tools

ERP systems

Excel/Spreadsheets

Production scheduling tools

Job description

Our client is a growing specialty manufacturer looking for a floor-focused operations leader to bring greater rhythm, accountability, and visibility to a multi-step production environment. This is an opportunity to take ownership of the full manufacturing flow, develop frontline leaders, improve how work moves between departments, and directly influence delivery performance, quality, and productivity. For a leader who enjoys being close to the work, solving problems as they happen, and building a stronger operation, this role offers meaningful visibility and impact.

This Role Offers

• Competitive base salary, depending on experience with an annual performance bonus tied to delivery, productivity, and quality results.


• Health insurance, paid time off, and a 401(k) plan.


• A hands-on environment where improvements can quickly translate into measurable results.


• Opportunity to strengthen processes, develop leaders, and build greater consistency as the operation evolves.

Focus

• Lead end-to-end production activities, keeping work moving efficiently across multiple interconnected manufacturing stages.


• Build daily and weekly production plans around backlog, customer commitments, staffing, capacity, and changing priorities.


• Manage and develop frontline supervisors and leads, establishing clear expectations for output, quality, staffing, and team performance.


• Identify floor constraints in real time and adjust labor, sequencing, and priorities to protect delivery commitments.


• Strengthen quality throughout the production process by improving departmental handoffs and addressing recurring issues.


• Monitor production performance and communicate trends related to schedule attainment, productivity, quality, shipments, labor, and overtime.


• Partner with business leadership to anticipate material requirements, manage labor costs, and prevent avoidable production disruptions.


• Maintain a highly visible shop-floor presence while advancing safety, workflow, cross-training, standard work, and continuous improvement.

Skill Set

• 5 to 10 plus years of hands-on manufacturing or production experience, including at least 2 to 3 years managing supervisors, leads, or other people managers.


• Proven experience leading individuals who are responsible for managing their own employees or production teams.


• Demonstrated success coordinating multiple production stages toward shared delivery deadlines rather than overseeing a single line or work center.


• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to identify bottlenecks, make timely decisions, and solve production issues directly on the floor.


• Working knowledge of production scheduling or ERP systems and spreadsheets used to track throughput, labor, and operating performance.


• Experience in multi-step or made-to-order manufacturing, with furniture, cabinetry, upholstery, millwork, or comparable environments considered especially relevant.


• Practical knowledge of capacity, labor utilization, quality, and workflow improvement. Exposure to lean, 5S, kaizen, or similar practices is a plus.


• Ability to work full-time on-site in Atlanta, spend extended periods on the manufacturing floor, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.