Operations Manager

LVI Associates; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Job summary

LVI Associates in Kalamazoo area is seeking an Operations Manager to lead a distributed team of engineers and analysts across industrial tech, MES, and analytics. You will drive operational excellence, client service delivery, and performance outcomes while shaping strategic initiatives to support growth.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in technical operations or program management, proven leadership in matrix organizations, and comfort managing remote teams and client relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Engineering, Technology, Business or related field.
• 5+ years in operations, program or project management in technical/industrial environments.
• Experience leading industrial tech, MES, analytics or automation teams.
• Proven leadership in a matrixed organization with remote team experience.
• PMP certification is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a distributed team of engineers and analysts.
• Drive recruiting, onboarding, and ongoing training initiatives.
• Serve as senior escalation point for customer support and service issues.
• Build strong client relationships and stakeholder engagement.
• Identify process improvements to enhance efficiency and service quality.
• Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvement strategies.
• Manage workforce planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Oversee CRM, project management, and business system utilization.

Skills

Leadership

Remote teams

KPI development

Client relations

PM methodologies

Communication

Decision making

PMP preferred

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Must be a US citizen Or Green Card Holder.

Operations Manager

Location: Kalamazoo/Portage, MI area

Travel: Up to 25%

About the Opportunity

A growing industrial technology and digital transformation organization is seeking an Operations Manager to lead and oversee the daily operations of a distributed technical services team. This individual will be responsible for driving operational excellence, ensuring exceptional client service delivery, managing team performance, and implementing strategic initiatives that support continued growth and customer success.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading technical teams within industrial automation, manufacturing technology, MES, analytics, or related environments and be comfortable managing remote teams, client relationships, and operational KPIs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and analysts.
• Drive recruiting, onboarding, and ongoing training initiatives.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for customer support and service-related issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and service quality.
• Monitor operational KPIs and develop strategies for continuous improvement.
• Manage workforce planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture across distributed teams.
• Conduct performance reviews and support employee development initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Oversee the utilization and optimization of CRM, project management, and business systems.
• Partner with internal technology teams to ensure system reliability and issue resolution.
• Prepare operational reports, analyze trends, and provide recommendations to leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of operations, program management, or project management experience in a technical, industrial, manufacturing, or engineering environment.
• Experience leading industrial technology, MES, manufacturing systems, analytics, or automation-focused teams.
• Proven leadership experience in a matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated success managing remote or geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong background in KPI development, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, project management platforms, and collaboration tools.
• Strong client-facing communication and relationship management skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• PMP certification is preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Background

Candidates with experience supporting manufacturing operations, industrial automation, digital transformation, MES, SCADA, analytics platforms, or operational technology environments are highly encouraged to apply.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefit offerings including long-term disability, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and telehealth services.