Operations Manager

Appvion; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Appvion is seeking an Operations Manager to provide strategic and day-to-day leadership at our Wisconsin manufacturing sites, driving operational excellence in safety, quality, delivery, and productivity. You will lead a cross-functional team, implement continuous improvement programs, and champion a culture of accountability across production, planning, and maintenance.

The role requires strong leadership, deep knowledge of lean manufacturing principles (Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S), and experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field.
• 3+ years of supervisory or leadership experience in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead site targets for safety, quality, service, and productivity; manage budgets and expenses.
• Deliver $500K+ in annual operational cost improvements through projects.
• Monitor KPIs, drive continuous improvement, and take corrective actions.
• Develop and communicate metrics for Safety, Quality, Service, Productivity, Scrap and Housekeeping.
• Optimize production schedules, maximize resource utilization and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with supply chain, planning, maintenance, QA and engineering.
• Drive sustainability initiatives reducing environmental impact.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Operations Manager provides strategic and day-to-day leadership at our manufacturing sites, ensuring operational excellence in safety, quality, delivery, productivity and employee engagement. This role is accountable for delivering high-performance results through effective leadership, operational discipline, and a culture of accountability. The Operations Manager will lead and motivate a team, coordinates with cross-functional teams, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to optimize operational performance.

Organizational Development (20%)

• Develop and establish top-performing team members who are motivated, accountable, and committed to delivering outstanding results.
• Collaborate and interface effectively with all cross-functional departments—including Commercial, Finance, HR, Planning, Purchasing, and Product Development - to maximize operational success and enhance expertise across the entire organization.
• Focus on building team capabilities to support long-term growth, operational excellence, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Core Operations Excellence (60%)

• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards and regulations.
• Effectively manage and take full leadership accountability for the site's annual operational targets, including safety, housekeeping, quality, service, scrap reduction, and manufacturing expenses.
• Deliver over $500K annually in operational cost improvements through disciplined project execution and effective budget management.
• Drive and achieve performance goals by monitoring key performance metrics and KPIs to assess productivity, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and communicate clear metrics for Safety, Quality, Service, Productivity, Scrap, and Housekeeping. Inspire and motivate the site team to take ownership and drive success.
• Ensure production schedules are consistently met by optimizing resource utilization and minimizing downtime to maximize operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with supply chain, planning, maintenance, quality assurance, and engineering departments to ensure smooth operations.
• Establish and drive sustainability initiatives that reduce environmental impact, optimize resource usage, and support the company's commitment to long-term environmental responsibility.

Strategic Project Execution (20%)

• Demonstrate effective leadership, team collaboration and execution for all site projects, ensuring alignment and long-term sustainability for all active and completed initiatives, both operationally and environmentally.
• Support key cross-functional strategic initiatives by providing site leadership and accountability to execute project plans effectively.
• Ensure all approved capital and maintenance projects at the site are delivered on time, within budget, and achieve the expected payback.

Attributes

Charismatic, congenial, inspirational and positive Leadership Approach style, Analytical, Problem Solver, Team Player, Accountable, Consistent demonstrated urgency practices and Execution Focused

Qualifications

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field preferred but not required; relevant experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient knowledge of production processes, quality control, and lean manufacturing principles such as Six Sigma, Kaizen, and 5S.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

M2SP