Operations Manager

MZN Management Group, LLC; East Berlin (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Client is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, inventory management, shipping, and production planning. This hands-on leader will align functions, establish priorities, and implement scalable processes to improve efficiency, throughput, quality and delivery.

The role emphasizes strong mechanical/technical aptitude, financial acumen and the ability to drive results in a fast-paced industrial environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in manufacturing, supply chain or operations with progressive responsibility.
• 7+ years in hands-on management leading multiple operational functions.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, scheduling, procurement and quality systems.
• Experience with product costing and cost improvement initiatives.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement and lean manufacturing practices.
• High proficiency with ERP and data-driven performance measurement.
• Ability to translate complex topics into actionable operational plans.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the President to develop and execute operating plans for revenue, cost and growth.
• Provide leadership across production, assembly, machining, purchasing, inventory and logistics.
• Mentor and develop operational leaders with clear expectations and accountability.
• Drive operational and financial results with cross-functional collaboration.
• Create plans to improve planning, throughput, capacity and on-time delivery.
• Oversee procurement, inventory, scheduling, and vendor management.
• Lead sourcing strategies and cost-reduction initiatives with engineering.
• Use ERP and data to measure performance and support decision making.
• Establish meaningful KPIs for productivity, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Financial acumen

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Our client, a growing manufacturer of highly engineered products and solutions serving specialized industrial markets, is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to join its leadership team.

The organization is entering an important stage of growth, creating an opportunity for an accomplished manufacturing leader to make an immediate and highly visible impact.

Reporting directly to the President, the Operations Manager will lead the company’s day to day manufacturing and operational functions, including production, supply chain, purchasing, inventory management, shipping and receiving, production planning, vendor management and manufacturing engineering.

This is an opportunity for a hands-on leader who enjoys building structure, improving processes, and developing teams. The organization has a strong foundation and experienced people in place, but its continued growth requires an operations leader who can bring the different functions together, establish clear priorities and accountability, and implement scalable processes that improve efficiency, throughput, quality and delivery.

The right individual will combine strong mechanical and technical aptitude with business and financial acumen. This person must be comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where priorities can shift, and practical problem solving is critical.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted partner to the President in developing and executing operating plans supporting revenue, cost, margin, talent development and company growth objectives.
• Provide leadership and direction across production, assembly, machining, purchasing, materials management, inventory, shipping and receiving, and manufacturing engineering.
• Lead, mentor and develop key operational leaders while establishing clear expectations, priorities and accountability across their respective teams.
• Drive results from both an operational and financial perspective while partnering closely with engineering, finance, the President and other members of the leadership team.
• Develop and implement plans to drive measurable improvements across all aspects of manufacturing and operations.
• Improve production planning, scheduling, workflow, throughput, capacity utilization and on time delivery to support increased order volume.
• Oversee supply chain functions, including procurement, production planning and scheduling, inventory management, distribution, supply and demand planning, vendor management and cost management.
• Develop, recommend and implement sourcing strategies that meet quality, financial, production and delivery objectives.
• Partner with engineering to identify and implement value engineering, manufacturability and cost reduction initiatives.
• Conduct make versus buy analyses to identify opportunities for improved cost efficiency, capacity and performance.
• Utilize ERP systems, financial information and operational data to measure performance, improve information flow and support better decision making throughout the organization.
• Establish and monitor meaningful operational KPIs related to productivity, quality, cost, inventory, throughput, capacity and delivery.
• Champion data driven continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives through leadership, coaching and accountability.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement practical solutions that improve efficiency, productivity and execution.
• Build and sustain a high performing operations team while maintaining a collaborative and performance driven culture.
• Develop employees through coaching, training and clear performance expectations while ensuring the organization has the talent and capabilities necessary to support continued growth.
• Maintain high standards for safety, quality, cost, delivery and customer satisfaction.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate is an experienced manufacturing and operations leader who can quickly understand a technically complex business, establish priorities, and bring people together around a common operating plan.

This individual should be equally comfortable on the manufacturing floor and working with the President and senior leadership team.

Success in this role will require strong mechanical and business aptitude, sound judgment, and the confidence to lead experienced employees with different personalities and working styles. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with high aptitude, low ego and a collaborative leadership style.
• Strong mechanical and technical aptitude with the ability to understand complex machinery, manufacturing processes and specialized technical information.
• A hands-on leadership approach with a willingness to be visible and engaged throughout the operation.
• Strong business and financial acumen with an understanding of product costing, margins, productivity and operational performance.
• High intellectual horsepower with an analytical, operational and metrics driven approach to problem solving.
• A positive, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to maintain focus and momentum in a fast-paced environment.
• The ability to confidently make difficult decisions and have direct conversations while maintaining professionalism and empathy.
• Strong influencing, negotiation, project management and communication skills.
• Adaptability and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a growing organization.
• Impeccable integrity, sound judgment and high ethical standards.

Experience and Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience within manufacturing, supply chain and/ or operations.
• 7+ years of hands-on management and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple operational functions within a manufacturing organization.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing management, production planning and scheduling, supply chain management, inventory management, procurement and quality systems.
• Significant knowledge and experience with product costing and cost improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing business and operational strategies.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement and lean manufacturing practices.
• Strong ERP and systems competency with the ability to leverage operational and financial data to measure and improve performance.
• Ability to comprehend complex technical topics and specialized information and translate strategy into executable operating plans.
• Experience building and developing high performing teams within a performance-based environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across engineering, finance, supply chain, manufacturing and senior leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, operations or a related field.
• Experience within engineered products, custom manufacturing, industrial equipment, machining, fabrication or another technically complex manufacturing environment is highly desirable.

This is an opportunity to join a growing organization at an important point in its development. The Operations Manager will have significant visibility with company leadership, responsibility across the operation, and the ability to make a measurable impact on manufacturing performance, team development, and the company’s continued growth.