Operations Manager

Cadrex; Bloomingdale, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Education support program

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

CADREX Manufacturing Solutions seeks an accomplished Operations Manager to lead plant operations with safety, quality and productivity accountability. You will translate priorities into action, build high-performing teams, and drive continuous improvement across lean, Six Sigma, and cost-reduction initiatives.

You will manage KPIs, budgets, and cross-functional alignment with finance, QA, supply chain, and leadership, ensuring on-time delivery and customer satisfaction in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing.
• 3+ years in plant or operations management.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication processes.
• ISO-9001 certified facility experience preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage 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 KPIs: safety, quality, OEE, labor efficiency, throughput and on-time delivery.
• Lead lean initiatives and Six Sigma to optimize production processes.
• Coach and develop plant management and supervisors; foster accountability and collaboration.
• Manage budgets, forecast performance, and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Bilingual EN/ES

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Description

AI 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

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
• Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience may be considered

LOCATION

• Onsite

SCHEDULE

• 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.