Operations Manager

AJ Augur Group, LLC - Plastics Search & Recruitment Experts; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AJ Augur Group, LLC - Plastics Search & Recruitment Experts is assisting a large plastics manufacturer in Lancaster County, PA, to source an Operations Manager. The role oversees a substantial, 24/7 operation with hundreds of employees and reports through managers and supervisors on the factory floor.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in progressive manufacturing leadership, strong track record in safety, quality, productivity, and cost control, and hands-on experience with high-volume plastics

Qualifications

• Significant manufacturing leadership experience
• Experience leading large multi-shift operations
• Experience in high-volume plastics environments (thermoforming/extrusion preferred)

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety, quality, and production targets across a large 24/7 operation
• Drive operational efficiency and cost performance through leaders and floor presence
• Develop leadership teams, hold managers accountable, and improve plant performance
• Align plant metrics with customer service and delivery goals

Skills

Leadership

People management

Operations management

Lean / continuous improvement

KPIs / daily management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management

Job description

We are conducting a search for an experienced Operations Manager for a large, established plastics manufacturer in the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania area.

This is a senior manufacturing leadership position responsible for a large, high-volume operation with approximately 200 to 300 employees.

We are looking for someone who has successfully led people and operations in a high-volume plastics manufacturing environment. Experience with thermoforming and/or extrusion is strongly desired.

This is not a position for someone who has primarily been an individual technical contributor. We are looking for a proven manufacturing leader who has managed managers, developed leadership teams, driven accountability, and improved plant performance.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

The Operations Manager will have responsibility for a significant portion of a 24/7 manufacturing operation and will work closely with plant leadership and support functions to drive:

• Safety
• Quality
• Production
• Operational efficiency
• Cost performance
• Customer service and delivery performance

You will lead through other managers and supervisors while maintaining a strong presence on the manufacturing floor.

The successful candidate will be expected to understand what's happening in the operation, identify problems, hold leaders accountable, and develop the people underneath them.

What We're Looking For:

We're interested in candidates with significant manufacturing operations leadership experience, preferably within:

• Thermoforming
• Plastic sheet extrusion
• Expanded polystyrene or foam manufacturing
• Plastic packaging
• Other high-volume plastics manufacturing processes

Candidates should have experience leading large, multi-shift manufacturing operations and managing through other managers and supervisors.

A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related discipline is preferred, along with approximately 7+ years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience.

The Leadership Background That Will Stand Out:

We're particularly interested in someone who can demonstrate that they have:

• Led operations involving hundreds of employees
• Managed and developed department managers and front-line leaders
• Worked in a 24/7 or continuous manufacturing environment
• Improved safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, scrap, downtime, or cost
• Used KPIs and daily management systems to drive accountability
• Led Lean or continuous improvement initiatives
• Built stronger leadership teams and improved employee engagement
• Been highly visible and engaged on the manufacturing floor
• Successfully led organizational or cultural change

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a large, financially stable U.S. manufacturer with significant manufacturing operations in Pennsylvania.

The position offers the opportunity to lead a substantial manufacturing organization while working for a company that can provide long-term career opportunities beyond a single plant or position.

The company offers:

• Base salary up to approximately $190,000
• Annual incentive opportunity
• 401(k)
• Long-term career growth within a large manufacturing organization

If you have successfully led a large plastics manufacturing operation and have experience in thermoforming, extrusion, or another closely related high-volume plastics process, I'd like to talk with you.