Ops Area Manager

Pulsejobs; Augusta (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pulsejobs in Augusta, WI seeks an Area Manager to lead the Operations and Material Handling teams. You will advance safety, quality, cost, and productivity while coaching hourly staff and driving Lean initiatives across shifts.

The role requires strong leadership, communication, and a proven ability to manage multiple departments and 40 direct reports. Industry experience in manufacturing with Lean knowledge is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Arts, Business, or Science or related Associate degree with equivalent experience
• 2+ years preferred in a manufacturing environment
• Better Process Control School certification (can be obtained on hire)

Responsibilities

• Lead Operations and Material Handling teams to improve safety, quality, cost, productivity and maintenance.
• Develop and coach hourly team members and drive Lean initiatives (6S, Kaizen, SPC).
• Rotate across departments and support 40 direct reports with shift coverage.
• Manage projects using Kaizen and Lean tools; analyze daily process data for improvements.
• Support budgets and ensure production data aligns with accounting (MUVs and labor).

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Adaptable

Detail oriented

Team building

Direct reports

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen

SPC

6S

SMED

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree

Better Process Control School

Job description

Position Title: Area Manager

Location: Augusta, WI

Strategic Group: Supply Chain

Department: Operations

Reports To: Production Manager

Number of Direct Reports: 40

Summary

Under the direction of the Department Manager, this position provides leadership to the Operations and Material Handling process teams in the business. This position is responsible for delivering continuous improvement in areas of Safety, Quality, Cost, Organizational Development, Productivity, and Reliable Maintenance. Results are achieved through providing growth, development, and coaching of hourly team members; involvement in continuous and process improvement initiatives; positive reinforcement of desired behavior; utilizing corrective counseling when needed; and incorporating tools used in Lean Manufacturing.

This person is responsible for the daily, as well as long-term, effectiveness of the operations team. The ability to perform all tasks in a highly collaborative team environment is essential. Continued success is achieved, in part, through the development of positive personal relationships within all employee groups. Willingness and flexibility to work on various shifts and rotate into different departments are mandatory components of the Area Manager role.

Major Position Responsibilities

It is an essential requirement of the job that the employee have the ability to function in a feedback-rich, team-based environment. Employees must possess good interpersonal skills and be compatible with co-workers.

ESSENTIAL

TEAM DEVELOPMENT

This includes teaching, planning, organizing, and implementing learning methods/tools for teams and individuals to increase their knowledge and abilities and to meet area, plant and company objectives.

Building accountability systems to ensure knowledge and skills are utilized to create innovative solutions and improvements, which contribute to the success of the company.

The manager is expected to lead the team in expanding their areas of influence and accountability, taking ownership of their operation and key measurements.

The manager encourages creative ideas from employees and formulates those ideas into realistic projects and processes that will improve safety, quality, morale, equipment reliability and/or reduce operating costs.

The manager must also deal effectively with behavioral issues, performance issues, and staffing needs. Utilization of feedback and performance reviews to obtain objective performance data is required.

Excellent verbal and written skills are essential to this role.

30%

PROJECT AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT

Effectively manages assigned projects that improve the production area including, but not limited to: building processes to manage safety, costs, quality, and timeliness of projects.

The skills to utilize Kaizen events and other Lean tools for process improvement is desired.

Ensures daily process data is analyzed and utilized for process improvement opportunity

Supports plant Food Safety, Food Quality, and personnel safety programs.

The manager provides a working knowledge of the production equipment while also seeking and providing appropriate resources (internal and external) to ensure the team's success. The manager also provides integration of the maintenance personnel into the team and the team processes. They also provide personal resources to aid in daily practical and analytical problem solving, as well as identifying and correcting safety issues for the production area.

5%

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Participates in the production area budgeting processes and operates within the established budget while providing timely notification of expenses exceeding budget amounts. The manager is responsible for the integrity of all information and data generated by the production area and teams.

Responsible for the knowledge and reporting or production data feeding the accounting processes. i.e. MUV's and labor

SUPPLEMENTAL:

Fiscal Responsibility: Operational budgets that includes controllable costs and labor.

Internal Customers: All hourly manufacturing personnel/QA/HR/Purchasing/Administration

External Customers: Corporate, consumers, equipment and material vendors, Temp services

Qualifications

Degrees

Bachelor's Degree of Arts, Business, or Science or related Associates degree with equivalent experience

Years of Experience

2+ preferred in a manufacturing environment

Certifications/Licenses

Better Process Control School- can be obtained upon hire through Bush Bros as well

Specialized Skills

Socially Astute

Strong Communication Skills

Adaptable

Results and Detail Oriented

Computer skills including use of Microsoft Office and web-based programs

Facilitation, coaching, and team building skills

Experience in managing direct reports or strong demonstration of ability to do so

Food Experience/Background/Knowledge preferred but not required

Knowledge of or experience in applying Lean Manufacturing tools such as 6S, SMED and Kaizen, SPC, and general mechanical/manufacturing knowledge is a plus.

Workplace Conditions

Ability to work 40 hours per week and as needed.

Office

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, etc.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit.

The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and rarely lift and/or move 25 – 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.