Manufacturing Operations Manager

FUCHS PETROLUB SE; Harvey (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Fuchs Lubricants Co. in Harvey, IL seeks a Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead a transformational operations team in a highly regulated batch environment.

You will drive continuous improvement, establish daily management systems, and partner with planning, maintenance, quality, and procurement to meet customer demand safely and efficiently. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a STEM field and 5+ years of manufacturing leadership, with SAP, Lean, and process-control

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Chemistry, Manufacturing, or a STEM field.
• 5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, preferably within a batch manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading supervisors and developing frontline leaders.
• Proven ability to drive accountability, operational execution, and organizational change.
• Strong communication, coaching, and influencing skills.
• Experience utilizing KPIs to improve operational performance.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Experience with process control systems.
• Experience working in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of EPA, OSHA, ISO, TS, IATF, or similar industry standards.
• Experience working in a visual factory environment with strong housekeeping standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform as a transformational leader and agent of change that fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strengthen leadership accountability by creating a culture of ownership, respectful performance management, disciplined execution, and consistent follow-through across all levels of the organization.
• Drive a culture where commitments are owned, issues are escalated appropriately, and actions are completed with urgency and discipline.
• Establish and sustain daily management systems including KPI reviews, action tracking, communication routines, and performance follow-up to improve operational discipline and execution.
• Develop supervisors and frontline leaders through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and performance development while fostering a positive, high-performing work environment built on FUCHS' core values.
• Establish sustainable management systems that improve operational discipline, KPI ownership, schedule execution, production performance, and standard work while reducing reactive firefighting.
• Partner with Planning, Scheduling, Warehouse, Procurement, Maintenance, Quality, Laboratory, and other functional teams to align priorities, improve communication, and ensure customer demand is met safely and efficiently.
• Lead root cause problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives that optimize safety, quality, productivity, process flow, scrap reduction, and manufacturing efficiency while creating sustainable operational improvements.
• Champion a safety-first culture by leading employee engagement, change management, EHS initiatives, housekeeping standards, and continuous improvement while building trust, accountability, and organizational alignment.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to establish safety, quality, production, and financial objectives while supporting budget development and cost control initiatives.
• Analyze production performance, operational KPIs, and quality metrics to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurring issues.
• Lead manufacturing improvement projects focused on process optimization, quality improvement, equipment reliability, production efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Develop, document, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process documentation to support operational consistency and standardization.
• Partner with vendors to evaluate equipment, materials, and product specifications while supporting purchasing decisions and continuous process improvement.
• Serve as the technical liaison between Laboratory and Operations to ensure manufacturing processes, product specifications, and new methods are effectively implemented.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization through effective communication, collaboration, coaching, and emotional intelligence.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, quality, and company standards.

Skills

Leadership

KPIs

Change management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Quality improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM (Engineering, Science, or related)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Manufacturing Operations Manager

Location:
Harvey, IL, US, 60426

MOVING YOUR WORLD by focusing on your success:

FUCHS offers a challenging and rewarding working environment where employees are encouraged to develop and grow. We stand behind our core values: trust, creating value, respect, reliability, and integrity. Ours is a culture that fosters creativ- ity and empowerment, values work/life balance, and gives you the freedom to excel. At FUCHS we aim to nurture your ca- pabilities, ideas and career.

FUCHS offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $125,000 - $140,000 per year, but actual salary will vary depending upon a new hire's experience and qualifications as well as internal equity.

Your Responsibilities:

• Perform as a transformational leader and agent of change that fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strengthen leadership accountability by creating a culture of ownership, respectful performance management, disciplined execution, and consistent follow-through across all levels of the organization.
• Drive a culture where commitments are owned, issues are escalated appropriately, and actions are completed with urgency and discipline.
• Establish and sustain daily management systems including KPI reviews, action tracking, communication routines, and performance follow-up to improve operational discipline and execution.
• Develop supervisors and frontline leaders through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and performance development while fostering a positive, high-performing work environment built on FUCHS' core values.
• Establish sustainable management systems that improve operational discipline, KPI ownership, schedule execution, production performance, and standard work while reducing reactive firefighting.
• Partner with Planning, Scheduling, Warehouse, Procurement, Maintenance, Quality, Laboratory, and other functional teams to align priorities, improve communication, and ensure customer demand is met safely and efficiently.
• Lead root cause problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives that optimize safety, quality, productivity, process flow, scrap reduction, and manufacturing efficiency while creating sustainable operational improvements.
• Champion a safety-first culture by leading employee engagement, change management, EHS initiatives, housekeeping standards, and continuous improvement while building trust, accountability, and organizational alignment.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to establish safety, quality, production, and financial objectives while supporting budget development and cost control initiatives.
• Analyze production performance, operational KPIs, and quality metrics to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurring issues.
• Lead manufacturing improvement projects focused on process optimization, quality improvement, equipment reliability, production efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Develop, document, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process documentation to support operational consistency and standardization.
• Partner with vendors to evaluate equipment, materials, and product specifications while supporting purchasing decisions and continuous process improvement.
• Serve as the technical liaison between Laboratory and Operations to ensure manufacturing processes, product specifications, and new methods are effectively implemented.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization through effective communication, collaboration, coaching, and emotional intelligence.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, quality, and company standards.

WHAT WE EXPECT

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Chemistry, Manufacturing, or another STEM-related discipline.
• Five (5)+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, preferably within a batch manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading supervisors and developing frontline leaders.
• Proven ability to drive accountability, operational execution, and organizational change.
• Strong communication, coaching, and influencing skills.
• Experience utilizing KPIs to improve operational performance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Chemical manufacturing experience.
• SAP experience.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Experience with process control systems.
• Experience working in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of EPA, OSHA, ISO, TS, IATF, or similar industry standards.
• Experience working in a visual factory environment with strong housekeeping standards.

WHAT WE OFFER

Fuchs offers a challenging and rewarding working environment where employees are encouraged to develop and grow as professionals. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that will expand your experience and challenge your abilities in the global marketplace. The position also offers an excellent compensation package and a comprehensive suite of benefits. To review the company benefits, you can follow this link: https://fuchs.com/us/en/benefits.

Fuchs Lubricants Co. is an equal employment opportunity (EEO)/AA employer and strongly supports diversity in the workplace (m/f/d/v).