Plant Operations Leader - Path to Plant Manager

Cooper Standard Automotive; Sherman Park (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Standard Automotive is seeking an Operations Manager to lead daily plant manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, and on-time delivery while controlling costs and inventory. The role includes oversight of MP&L and collaboration across Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and Finance.

A path to Plant Manager within 12 months is anticipated. The ideal candidate will have 5–8 years of supervisory experience in manufacturing, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field required, or equivalent experience.
• Five to eight years of supervision or management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in automotive manufacturing, production control, material flow, inventory management, logistics, supply chain, or MP&L preferred.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, production cost management, and operational reporting preferred.
• Knowledge of quality and environmental management systems, including IATF and ISO 14001.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily plant manufacturing operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, inventory, and engagement goals.
• Build and maintain a safe work environment through proactive safety leadership and follow-up actions.
• Direct operations leadership and staffing, manpower planning, performance management, and talent development.
• Develop and execute production plans supporting customer requirements, on-time delivery, and launch readiness.
• Provide leadership oversight for MP&L activities including scheduling, material planning, inventory control, shipping, and vendor releasing.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, Finance, MP&L to resolve issues and improve performance.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts: scrap reduction, lean activities, Gemba walks, corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with quality, environmental, safety, labor relations, policy, procedure, and contractual requirements (IATF / ISO 14001).
• Develop, monitor, and manage the Operations budget, including labor and production costs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Operations leadership

SAP experience

Talent development

Problem solving

Communication skills

MS Office / ERP awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Cooper Standard Automotive is seeking an Operations Manager to lead daily plant manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, and on-time delivery while controlling costs and inventory. The role includes oversight of MP&L and collaboration across Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and Finance.

A path to Plant Manager within 12 months is anticipated. The ideal candidate will have 5–8 years of supervisory experience in manufacturing, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and strong