Operations Manager

Knoll Inc.; Afton (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Within Reach is seeking an Operations Manager to drive safety, quality, reliability, cost control, and continuous improvement aligned with business strategy.

You will lead teams, spend significant time on the floor, and coach staff to meet performance goals and standardized work practices.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of supervisory experience in a technical or complex operations environment.
• Ability to express ideas effectively with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Adept at resolving conflict in a team environment and driving improvements.
• Demonstrated coaching and change-management abilities.
• Proficient with office automation and relevant tools used in an office/ops environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement of operational processes to maximize value for customers.
• Lead and manage building operations and floor activities.
• Spend ~80% on the floor to observe operations and gather input for improvements.
• Facilitate organizational change to enhance capability and performance.
• Motivate and coach teams; hold staff accountable to standardized work.
• Identify root causes of client issues and partner with service and quality teams to resolve them.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Operations management

Team leadership

Problem solving

Communication skills

Change management

Safety awareness

Job description

Why join us? At Design Within Reach, home comes first. We believe in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime – from home to home, generation to generation. For us, that means exceptionally crafted, built‑to‑last, and beautifully designed furnishings. Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of Design Within Reach means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows Design Within Reach to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Operations Manager drives operational objectives (in areas such as safety, product quality, reliability, cost, continuous improvement, and employee morale) that align with and promote the achievement of operations and the corporation's business strategy. Achieves results through successful leadership and team development, as well as effective planning, organization, implementation, and execution.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for driving continuous improvement of operational processes to maximize value delivered to customers.
• Leads and manages building.
• Responsible for spending 80% of time directly on the floor where the key value‑added activities take place so one can understand the current status of the operation and gain direct input from employees in order to make improvements.
• Responsible for facilitating change to improve the organization’s capability by utilizing people’s skills to solve problems proactively.
• Responsible for motivating and involving employees in improving process through creativity, problem solving and learning.
• This is accomplished through setting expectations, teaching, encouraging, coaching, and holding direct labor employees accountable to utilize standardized work to improve operations as well as participating in the implementation of improvements.
• Solicit employees’ ideas for improvement and create a work environment where employees are encouraged to take risks and share their ideas for improvement.
• Ensure the team’s performance and accountability to zero client problems.
• Responsibilities include identifying and solving department problems that cause poor service.
• Must partner with customer service and quality teams to ensure the identification of client issues and their root causes, as well as designing and implementing solutions.
• Responsible to show appreciation of those individuals and teams that demonstrate outstanding performance, which is aligned with the company’s Values.
• Also responsible for providing timely feedback including formal performance reviews, performance coaching and discipline.
• Ensure 100% on‑time delivery of quality products to customers.
• Ensure a safe working environment for all employees and visitors.
• Responsible for the team’s safety program, implementation and commitment to all safety training and development.
• Manage and monitor the achievement of corporate and facility goals.
• Performs additional responsibilities as requested to achieve business objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Successful candidates should be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 8 + years of successful supervisory experience (including leading teams, salaried level employees, and multiple departments) in a technical or complex operations environment.
• Ability to express ideas effectively (verbally and nonverbal) with well-developed interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated professionalism.
• Adept at resolving conflict in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and understand issues and make appropriate decisions.
• Demonstrated coaching and change management skills.
• Ability to effectively use office automation and communication software and tools used in office environment.
• Critical competencies for this position include integrity and trust, customer orientation, job knowledge, decisiveness, relationship building, effective communication, systemic thinking, future focused, managing and developing talent, flexibility, innovation, and business knowledge.
• Must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without accommodation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to perform all essential functions of the position with or without accommodations.

Who We Hire?

Simply put, we hire qualified applicants representing a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Design Within Reach is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work.

We’re committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities.

This organization participates in E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.

MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

MillerKnoll is a collective of design brands coming together to remake modern for the 21st century.