Operations Manager

Cadrex; Bloomingdale (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

401(k) with employer match

Education support program

Safety eyeglasses/shoe reimbursement

Referral bonuses

Bonus plan for all full-time employees

Job summary

Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions is seeking an accomplished Operations Manager to provide hands-on leadership across plant operations in Illinois. You will be responsible for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement, building a high-performing team and translating business priorities into action.

You will lead lean initiatives, manage budgets and KPIs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure ISO-9001 compliant production and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing or production.
• Strong knowledge of sheet metal fabrication processes and equipment.
• Experience with high-volume operations, budgets, P&L, production planning, and ERP systems.
• Lean, Kaizen, 5S, safety, environmental, and quality systems experience.
• ISO-9001 certification facility experience.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage daily plant operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity goals.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company goals and customer requirements.
• Monitor KPIs including safety, quality, OEE, labor efficiency, throughput, inventory, and on-time delivery.
• Lead lean initiatives to optimize production processes and increase productivity.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Communication

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Lean

Six Sigma

Kaizen

ISO-9001

Job description

DescriptionAI is changing the world. Want to help build the technology behind it? It starts with skilled people who assemble, test, and manufacture the equipment powering tomorrow's technology. Join our team and help build advanced AI hardware used by leading companies around the world. Whether you're an assembler, machine operator, technician, quality inspector, or production professional, your work will directly contribute to shaping the future

OVERVIEW

Cadrex seeks an accomplished Operations Manager to provide visible, hands-on leadership across plant operations, with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and continuous improvement. This leader will set clear expectations, build and develop a high-performing team, translate business priorities into action, and foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability, and sustained results.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct and manage all daily plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity goals
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company goals and customer requirements
• Monitor and improve plant KPIs including safety, quality, OEE, labor efficiency, throughput, inventory, and on-time delivery
• Align production plans, staffing, materials, inventory, shipping, and schedules with cross-functional teams
• Remove operational constraints to improve throughput, labor efficiency, equipment utilization, and capacity
• Champion workplace safety by enforcing compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, etc.)
• Lead initiatives to improve the safety culture within the plant, reducing accidents, injuries, and incidents
• Ensure all employees receive the necessary training and adhere to established safety protocols and procedures
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to the plant management team and supervisors, ensuring alignment with company values and objectives
• Foster a collaborative, results-driven work environment that promotes teamwork, innovation, and accountability
• Recruit, train, and develop plant staff, focusing on skills development and succession planning
• Manage plant budgets and control operating costs, ensuring expenditures align with financial targets
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives while maintaining production efficiency and product quality
• Collaborate with the finance department to forecast plant financial performance and adjust operations accordingly
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the plant to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve product quality
• Implement lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies to optimize production processes and increase productivity
• Promote a culture of problem-solving and root-cause analysis to identify opportunities for improvement
• Ensure that products meet or exceed customer specifications, industry standards, and internal quality requirements
• Work closely with the quality assurance team to resolve quality issues and implement preventive measures
• Support the development and maintenance of quality control systems to monitor production outputs
• Coordinate with the supply chain team to ensure the timely procurement of raw materials, parts, and components necessary for production
• Manage inventory levels to support production needs without excess material or waste
• Act as the main point of contact between the plant and corporate leadership, providing regular updates on plant performance, challenges, and opportunities
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support new product development, capacity planning, and customer satisfaction
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies
• Align production plans, staffing, materials, inventory, shipping, and schedules with cross-functional teams
• Manage plant KPIs, remove constraints, and improve throughput, labor efficiency, equipment performance, and capacity
• Maintain compliance with company, customer, OSHA, EPA, quality, and other regulatory requirements
• Manage budgets, forecasts, operating expenses, and cost-reduction initiatives
• Coach supervisors and plant staff through training, performance management, and succession planning
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, root-cause, and corrective-action efforts
• Report plant performance and build effective relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and corporate leadership

REQUIREMENTS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment, including 3+ years in plant or operations management
• Strong knowledge of sheet metal fabrication manufacturing processes and equipment
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a focus on employee development, coaching, and motivation
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a hands-on approach to operational challenges
• Ability to analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions and improve plant performance
• Experience with high-volume operations, budgets, P&L, production planning, and ERP systems
• Working knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, 5S, safety, environmental, and quality systems
• Experience in managing an ISO-9001 certified facility
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with all levels of the organization
• Bilingual English / Spanish a plus

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field preferred

LOCATION

Onsite

SCHEDULEM-F

M-F

TOTAL COMPENSATION INCLUDES

• Health/dental/vision coverage
• Employer-paid and supplemental life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off and holiday pay
• Monthly remote work stipend (for remote employees who qualify)
• 401(k) investment plan, with an employer match of up to 4%
• Education support program
• Safety eyeglasses/shoe reimbursement
• Referral bonuses
• Bonus plan for all full-time employees

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally loud.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

CADREX'S CORE VALUES

Safety first, rising to the challenge, collaboration, accountability, and doing the right thing

ABOUT US

CADREX Manufacturing Solutions is a leading provider of complex sheet metal and machined production parts, assemblies, and weldments for a variety of end markets, including electrical transmission and distribution, warehouse automation, technology, aerospace & defense, medical, food, and industrials. With locations in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Monterrey Mexico, CADREX offers numerous in-house manufacturing capabilities, including laser cutting, sheet metal fabrication, complex assembly, CNC punching, CNC machining, forming, robotic welding, stamping, fastener insertion, and tool and die manufacturing, to effectively serve customers with lights-out manufacturing capabilities for mid-to-high-volume production. For more information, visit www.cadrex.com.

Cadrex provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Salary Description

130-160 Yearly

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process. AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate's qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.