Operations Manager - Valves and Actuators

01 & 04 Woodward, Inc.; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Stock contribution

Tuition reimbursement

Training/Professional Development

12 paid holidays

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Parental leave

Adoption Assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

Woodward's Fort Collins plant is seeking a Production Operations Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing, ensuring safety, quality, delivery and cost targets while driving employee engagement. This role focuses on operational excellence through strategic planning, process optimization and team development.

The position requires strong leadership, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration. Proficiency in Excel, Power BI and SAP, with a Lean mindset, is expected to optimize OEE, throughput

Qualifications

• Experience leading manufacturing operations teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in ERP systems (SAP) and data-driven decision making.
• Lean/continuous improvement mindset and KPI management.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead the operational team to meet targets and quality standards.
• Operational Planning: Develop budgets and priorities to address resource allocation and challenges.
• Performance Management: Conduct appraisals, hiring, training, and development plans; monitor KPIs (OEE, throughput, scrap, on-time delivery).
• Problem Resolution: Identify and resolve technical and operational issues to minimize disruption.
• Cross Functional Coordination: Collaborate with other departments to achieve strategic goals.

Skills

Leadership

Critical Thinking

Communication

Time Management

Emotional Intelligence

Collaboration

Operational Management

ERP/Systems Knowledge (SAP)

Excel/BI/Data Analysis

Tools

SAP

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

MRP

Job description

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards. We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities, creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future. Woodward supports our members’ wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Production Operations Manager – Woodward’s Industrial product division in Fort Collins, Colorado is seeking a Production Operations Manager who will responsible for leading all day-to-day manufacturing operations to ensure safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement objectives ae achieved. This role drives operational excellence through strategic planning, process optimization, team development, and continuous improvement initiatives while aligning plant performance with overall business objectives.

Estimated annual base pay: $110,000-$150,000

All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.

Benefits

• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Voluntary benefits, including:
• Home / Auto Insurance discounts
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Manage and oversee the operational team, ensuring that performance targets and quality standards are consistently met.
• Operational Planning: Develop and adapt departmental plans, budgets and priorities to address resource allocation and operational challenges effectively. (Responsible for budget and cost control.)
• Performance Management: Conduct member performance appraisals, handle hiring and training processes, and implement development plans to enhance team capabilities. Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) including OEE, throughput, scrap, on‑time delivery, and labor efficiency.
• Problem Resolution: Identify and resolve technical and operational issues, ensuring minimal disruption to departmental objectives and overall performance.
• Cross Functional Coordination: Collaborate with other departments to integrate business processes and achieve strategic operational goals.

Key Skills

• Leadership: The ability to guide, motivate, and inspire multiple teams or departments to achieve organizational goals by aligning resources, fostering cross‑functional collaboration, and driving accountability across broader operations.
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving: The ability to lead teams in analyzing situations, evaluate options, and develop effective solutions using logic, creativity, and sound judgment.
• Operational Management: Proficient in managing and motivating teams to enhance performance and achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets. Adept at monitoring and managing financial performance, including budgeting and cost control within the area of responsibility.
• Communication: Sets example and models excellent communication skills with stakeholders, support teams, and with own team.
• Time Management: Ability to identify critical tasks and allocate time and resources accordingly. Balances urgent production needs with medium‑term improvement initiatives. Consistently meets production and delivery targets. Manages competing priorities without compromising quality or safety.
• Lean Mindset: Proficient with 5S, Visual Management, Standardized Work, Daily Management Systems, Flow / Pull, Value Stream Mapping and Improvement through Kaizen. Leads Production System implementation elements of member, machine, and material capacity planning. Leads DMS.
• Knowledgeable in how different business areas interact and integrates operations to support overall business objectives.
• Computer Skills: Strong skills in Excel, Power BI, or Tableau for operational reporting. Ability to analyze production data to identify trends, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities. Proficiency in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP. User level understanding of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) for inventory and production scheduling.
• Emotional Intelligence: The ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions while effectively perceiving and responding to the emotions of others. This includes skills such as empathy, self‑awareness, emotional regulation, social awareness, and relationship management to foster positive interactions and resolve challenges constructively.
• Collaboration: Involves working closely with team members, other departments, senior management, and external partners to align goals, improve processes, and ensure smooth operations. This includes fostering open communication, coordinating across functions, solving problems, and supporting team development while maintaining a focus on efficiency and productivity. (Executive presence.)

Application window is anticipated to close 7 days from original posting date. This information is provided in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and is the company’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job‑related reasons. This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee). Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.

What does it mean to be part of Woodward? It means contributing to what matters most in your career, in your community and around the world. It means being a part of rewarding experiences, where innovation, collaboration and problem‑solving are at the heart of what we do.

Woodward is the global leader in the design, manufacturing, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. Together with our customers, we are enabling the path to a cleaner, decarbonized world. Our innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion and motion control systems perform in some of the world’s harshest environments. At Woodward we have created a culture that appreciates and values the contributions of every member. We are a global team of curious, innovative problem‑solvers who commit our knowledge, resources and technical expertise to the challenges associated with reducing emissions, enabling alternative energy sources and increasing efficiency, always innovating for a better future. Woodward is working with our customers to solve some of the world’s biggest energy challenges. This important work needs more than just the brightest technical minds. It requires talented and committed manufacturing professionals, accountants, supply chain managers, human resources experts, information technology specialists and many more. We are looking for dedicated people who want to learn and grow in a supportive environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and inclusion.