Operations Manager

The Panther Group; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Panther Group is partnering with a well-known manufacturing organization serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets to recruit an experienced Operations Manager for its Wisconsin facility. The role drives production goals, quality, delivery, and financial objectives.

You will mentor production supervisors, lead Lean initiatives, oversee planning, scheduling, inventory, and KPI management, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain, and Maintenance to raise

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical or business discipline is preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive manufacturing or production management experience, including supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience leading and developing supervisors and manufacturing teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight of manufacturing operations to ensure production goals, quality standards, delivery commitments, and financial objectives are achieved.
• Lead and develop production supervisors and operational teams, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance goals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean Manufacturing, process optimization, and cycle-time reduction.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, shipment forecasting, and inventory management to meet customer requirements.
• Monitor KPIs, including on-time delivery, quality, safety, productivity, and manufacturing costs.
• Promote a culture of quality ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain, and Maintenance to improve operational performance.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resources, and operational plans.
• Oversee facility maintenance, plant layout, capital equipment investments, and facility improvement projects.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Analyze operational performance, identify improvement opportunities, and provide regular reporting to senior leadership.
• Support recruiting, hiring, employee development, performance management, and succession planning.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

SPC

TQM

ISO standards

Budgeting

Leadership

Continuous improvement

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Manufacturing Engineering or related

Tools

MS Office

Manufacturing systems

Job description

Our client, a well-known manufacturing organization serving the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead manufacturing operations at its Wisconsin facility.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight of manufacturing operations to ensure production goals, quality standards, delivery commitments, and financial objectives are achieved.
• Lead and develop production supervisors and operational teams, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and performance goals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean Manufacturing, process optimization, and cycle-time reduction.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, shipment forecasting, and inventory management to meet customer requirements.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including on-time delivery, quality, safety, productivity, and manufacturing costs.
• Promote a culture of quality ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain, and Maintenance to improve operational performance.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resources, and operational plans.
• Oversee facility maintenance, plant layout, capital equipment investments, and facility improvement projects.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Analyze operational performance, identify improvement opportunities, and provide regular reporting to senior leadership.
• Support recruiting, hiring, employee development, performance management, and succession planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• 7-10 years of progressive manufacturing or production management experience, including supervisory responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing supervisors and manufacturing teams.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production scheduling, staffing, safety, and maintenance.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Total Quality Management (TQM), and ISO standards.
• Demonstrated success driving continuous improvement and improving operational performance.
• Experience with project management, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization and with customers.
• Strong leadership, organizational, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing systems.
• Experience in aerospace and defense, electronics, PCB, medical device, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Lean or Six Sigma training and hands-on continuous improvement implementation experience.