Operations Manager

Oerlikon; Lake Orion (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

HSA contributions

Dental & Vision

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Life insurance

Employee referral bonus

Job summary

Oerlikon in Lake Orion, MI is seeking an Operations Manager to lead daily manufacturing operations, align with customer requirements, and drive continuous improvement in safety, quality and efficiency. You will oversee plant strategy, monitor KPIs like on-time delivery and cost-of-quality, mentor supervisors, and collaborate with Quality and Sales on customer-focused projects to ensure profitable growth.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s in engineering or business and at least 3 years managing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business management, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years managing teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience delivering on-time product delivery in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Understand and manage the plant strategy focusing on customer needs and Oerlikon standards guiding center to achieve goals.
• Monitor and align operational activities to support plant performance.
• Drive profitable growth through efficient daily operations and customer demands.
• Lead by example, mentor supervisors and ensure standardized processes across the area.
• Plan, monitor and execute strategy to achieve KPIs like On-Time Delivery and Cost of Non-Quality.

Skills

People management

KPI tracking

Operational planning

Client/customer service

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

MS Office

Job description

Career Opportunities: Operations Manager (104297)

Requisition ID104297-Posted09/30/2026-Production/Facility Management

We are looking for a Operations Manager for our Lake Orion, MI facility. The Operations Manager executes strategic and operational efforts to ensure exceptional service delivery and business growth within the surface technologies services sector. This role is responsible for aligning the operations with customer requirements, overseeing key initiatives, and driving continuous improvement across safety, quality, and efficiency. The Operations Manager executes the customer and business needs, monitors performance across critical processes and workforce, cost control initiatives, and KPIs executes actions to optimize outcomes and support long-term success within customer needs and request.

Your Responsibilities:

• Understand and Manages the Plant strategy focusing on customer needs and Oerlikon Standards guiding center to achieve goals
• Make sure daily, weekly and monthly meetings are met (including core team meetings, center communication, customers and sales related, Quality, others)
• Monitor and align operational activities to support plant performance.
• Drive and take action to make profitable growth aligned with Oerlikon’s strategy through efficient daily operations and customer demands.
• Support strategic initiatives through effective project management and execution.
• Support and guide Supervisor / Operations Manager ensuring standardized (internal and external) processes across the assigned area.
• Establish and optimize operational practices, including portfolio management, preventive maintenance within schedule.
• Plan, monitor and execute strategy to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) such as On-Time Delivery, Cost of Non-Quality, Profitability, Customer Care, and Preventive Maintenance.
• Ensure a safe work environment by adhering to HSE standards and achieving safety goals.
• Promote and sustain a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and 6S methodology.
• Collaborate with Quality and Sales teams on customer-focused projects.
• Maintain strong customer relationships through proactive engagement.
• Provide clear direction to teams in alignment with Oerlikon Core Values.
• Manage Operations monthly to achieve P&L forecast meeting efficiency objectives.
• Lead by example, cultivate team spirit, and mentor future leaders.
• Manage all HSE related topic along with Audit preparation and actions
• Audits preparation and action to be taken on time
• Develop succession plans and career development paths for leaders to ensure long-term workforce stability

Your Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years managing teams in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing production cycles and ensuring on-time product delivery in a manufacturing setting.
• Proficient in developing, tracking, and acting on key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Strong engineering foundation with excellent interpersonal and customer service abilities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver clear and compelling presentations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Energetic, goal-driven, and results-oriented, with a high level of initiative and a strong sense of accountability.

We offer:

Aside from a dynamic global culture and leading market position, we are proud to offer our employees developmentopportunities, competitive salary and a robust benefit program ALL available on first day of employment!

The perks and benefits of working at Oerlikon include the following:

• Comprehensive medical and prescription drug plan with low premiums, company sponsored HSA contributions and without cumbersome waiting periods to keep you going strong.
• Excellent Dental and Vision coverage.
• Employee Assistance, Financial and Wellness programs to help improve all aspects of your life journey.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with significant company match and financial planning and education options to help you achieve your retirement goals
• Tuition reimbursement and internal education resources to satisfy your love of learning so you can continue to grow with us!
• Generous paid time off to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• 10 observed company holidays and 2 floaters, to occasionally extend your weekends or time off.
• 100% company paid life insurance and disability insurance
• Employee Referral Bonus program because why not to bring your friends to work everyday!

Why Oerlikon:

Curiosity thrives at Oerlikon, and creates a dynamic, energetic and exciting environment that incubates innovation and passion to consistently improve what we do every day. This drives value for our customers and other stakeholders and helps us to enhance the performance of our products and services.

About us

Oerlikon is a global leader in material science engineering. Through the right combination of surface technologies, advanced materials, coating equipment, engineered components and advanced manufacturing, we help customers improve the performance, efficiency, durability and sustainability of their products and processes. Our technologies are often invisible to the end user, but mission-critical to the industries that power modern life: aerospace, energy, semiconductors, medical, luxury, tooling, automotive and general industries. Headquartered in Pfaeffikon, Switzerland, Oerlikon operates in 38 countries with a global workforce of around 10,000 people. In 2025, Oerlikon achieved sales of CHF 1.6 billion.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Oerlikon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you’d like more information on your EEO rights under the law, please click here: Know Your Rights.

If you are unable to complete an application or respond to a job opening because of a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or [e-mail] . This contact information is for accessibility requests only and is not intended for inquiries about the status of applications or for third-party vendor/agency requests.

Oerlikon will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Oerlikon only accepts agency resumes for positions that have been explicitly approved by HR for third-party support. We work exclusively with our approved vendors who have agreed to Oerlikon’s terms and conditions and have an executed contract in place. Any resumes or profiles submitted to Oerlikon employees for roles not approved and requested by HR will be considered unsolicited, and Oerlikon will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.