Operations Manager

H.T. Prof Executive Search; Freehold (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Stock options

401K match

Profit sharing

Vacation

Paid holidays

HSA contribution

Three-tier medical, dental and vision

Job summary

H.T. Prof Executive Search is partnering with a growing manufacturer near Freehold, NJ to hire an Operations Manager. The role leads a fast-paced production team, champions continuous improvement, and drives safety-first culture across a multi-shift operation.

Strong Lean and Six Sigma experience, along with 100+ reports, are required. You will report to Site Manager and oversee collaboration with maintenance, engineering, quality, planning, and logistics to optimize performance and cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, ideally in a technical field.
• At least seven years of similar operations manufacturing management experience.
• Experience overseeing production in pharmaceutical, personal care, food or beverage manufacturing environments.
• FDA regulated environments experience.
• Experience leading direct and indirect reports with at least 100 total reports.
• Root cause analysis and corrective action experience.
• Experience overseeing 24/7 operations.
• Experience championing continuous improvement, Six Sigma Green Belt preferred.
• Budget management.
• ERP experience.
• Microsoft Office skills, including Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Directs 24/7 manufacturing operations to meet safety, quality, throughput, reliability, and cost targets.
• Manage daily priorities, staffing, equipment allocation, and materials with real-time performance monitoring.
• Design and deploy continuous improvement strategy using Lean and Six Sigma.
• Lead coaching, onboarding, and succession planning to expand site capability.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, quality, planning, and logistics to optimize site objectives.
• Oversee capital investments and financial planning with site leadership.

Skills

Six Sigma

Lean Manufacturing

Root cause analysis

ERP experience

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical field

MBA (preferred)

Tools

Power BI

MS Excel

ERP systems

Job description

20% bonus potential, profit sharing, 401K match, benefits day one of employment and so much more!

Drive high-impact operations leadership with an industry-leading compensation package at a stable, rapidly growing manufacturer actively investing in its plant and people.

Diverse Industry Reach & Strategic Growth: Take the next step in your career at an established manufacturer serving multiple market sectors, offering strong business stability and immediate future product expansion opportunities.

Top-Tier Total Compensation: Access an outstanding rewards package featuring a premier 401K match, stock options, profit sharing, and excellent bonus potential.

Heavy Capital Investment & Infrastructure: Work at a site investing in cutting-edge technology and adding business lines designed to directly enhance staff workplace experience.

High-Impact Leadership: Step into a high-profile role where you can drive immediate, high-visibility improvements and prioritize a safety-first culture.

Thriving Culture & Career Mobility: Join a fast-paced, Lean-focused team with outstanding workforce retention, minimal turnover, and pathways for both local and national career advancement.

Opportunity in an environment driven by improvement, synergy and positivity is right around the corner!

Growing manufacture near Freehold, NJ area is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the site's fast-paced production team and champion continuous improvement efforts. As the Operations Manager, you will excel in coaching and mentoring a team of direct and indirect reports, holding others accountable and fostering a servant leadership culture across a multi-shift operation. You will report to the Site Manager and will have the following responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Execution:

Directs 24/7 fast-paced, manufacturing operations to meet key targets for safety, quality, throughput, reliability, and cost. Manages daily operational priorities, staffing, equipment allocation, and materials while maintaining real-time performance monitoring to swiftly address and recover from line deviations, downtime, or service disruptions.

Operational Excellence & Lean Manufacturing:

Designs and deploys the site’s continuous improvement strategy using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies (including Daily Management, 5S, TPS, SMED, Kaizen, and standard work). Uses loss-analysis tools to eliminate chronic losses in downtime, changeovers, labor, and OEE, while establishing visual controls, audits, and leader standard work to ensure long‑term result sustainment.

Team Leadership, Coaching & Talent Development:

Builds high-performing operating teams by establishing clear daily accountability, coaching supervisors and team leads, and overseeing hiring, onboarding, and qualification programs. Leads performance management, structured training, and succession planning to expand site capability across all manufacturing roles.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & New Product Industrialization:

Partners closely with maintenance, engineering, quality, planning, and logistics to eliminate recurring equipment failures, support preventive/autonomous maintenance, and streamline site-wide objectives. Actively leads industrialization efforts, including new product launches, equipment installations, validations, and process commissioning.

Financial Management & Strategic Planning:

Manages departmental budgets, labor planning, and operating expenses to maximize cost efficiency. Evaluates capacity constraints, recommends strategic capital investments, and serves as a key advisor to site leadership on annual operating goals, capability improvements, and long-term facility growth.

The company is seeking a candidate who enjoys spending up to 50% of their day on the manufacturing floor, leading a safety oriented culture. Qualified candidates should be passionate about continuous improvement and able to champion Six Sigma and Lean initiatives. Candidates should lead by example, be able to build rapport with their team, be strategic, and have excellent communication skills.

The benefits package includes a strong bonus potential, stock options, 401K match, profit sharing, vacation, paid holidays, HSA contribution and three tier medical, dental and vision day one of employment!

REQUIREMENTS for the Operations Manager:

1. 1. Bachelor's degree, ideally in a technical field
2. 2. At least seven years of similar operations manufacturing management experience
3. 3. Experience overseeing production in pharmaceutical, personal care, food or beverage manufacturing environments
4. 4. FDA regulated environments
5. 5. Previous experience leading direct and indirect reports with at least 100 total reports
6. 6. Root cause analysis and corrective action experience
7. 7. Experience overseeing 24/7 operations
8. 8. Experience championing continuous improvement efforts, ideally with at least a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
9. 9. Budget management
10. 10. ERP experience
11. 11. Microsoft Office skills, including Word and Excel

Skills preferred but NOT required:

1. 1. Power BI
2. 2. MBA

Candidates are preferred to be local to the Freehold, NJ area. Currently there is not a relocation package.

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