Plant Operations Manager

Connect Search, LLC; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC partners with a well-established manufacturing company in Milwaukee to identify an experienced Plant Operations Manager to join its leadership team. This is a key leadership role overseeing day-to-day plant operations, developing department supervisors, and driving improvements in safety, quality, labor efficiency, production, and overall plant performance.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in foundry or job shop manufacturing and have experience leading

Qualifications

• 10+ years of foundry or job shop manufacturing experience.
• 5+ years of experience managing supervisors and/or managers.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day plant operations and production performance.
• Lead, coach, and develop department supervisors.
• Drive improvements in labor efficiency, scrap reduction, and profitability.
• Establish and monitor production and operational performance metrics.
• Hold teams accountable to safety, quality, production, and performance expectations.
• Monitor production schedules and ensure customer requirements are consistently met.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement and cost-saving initiatives.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, purchasing, sales, and other departments.
• Maintain a strong culture of workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee inventory needs and partner with procurement to maintain appropriate material levels.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.
• Communicate operational updates, challenges, and process improvements across the leadership team.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Continuous Improvement

Team Development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Connect Search is partnering with a well-established manufacturing company in Milwaukee to identify an experienced Plant Operations Manager to join its leadership team.

This is a key leadership position responsible for overseeing day-to-day plant operations, leading and developing department supervisors, and driving improvements across safety, quality, labor efficiency, production, and overall plant performance.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in foundry or job shop manufacturing and have experience leading other supervisors or managers. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys being close to the operation, developing teams, and using production data to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee day-to-day plant operations and production performance
• Lead, coach, and develop department supervisors
• Drive improvements in labor efficiency, scrap reduction, and overall profitability
• Establish and monitor production and operational performance metrics
• Hold teams accountable to safety, quality, production, and performance expectations
• Monitor production schedules and ensure customer requirements are consistently met
• Identify and implement continuous improvement and cost-saving initiatives
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, purchasing, sales, and other departments
• Maintain a strong culture of workplace safety and regulatory compliance
• Oversee inventory needs and partner with procurement to maintain appropriate material levels
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve operational efficiency
• Communicate operational updates, challenges, and process improvements across the leadership team

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of foundry or job shop manufacturing experience
• 5+ years of experience managing supervisors and/or managers
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop manufacturing teams
• Strong understanding of plant operations, production efficiency, and continuous improvement
• Experience using production and labor data to drive operational decisions
• Knowledge of workplace safety and environmental regulations
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple departments
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other relevant systems
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, or a related field preferred

The position offers a base salary up to $160,000 depending on experience, along with a competitive benefits package. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader looking to take ownership of plant operations while having a meaningful impact on people, processes, efficiency, and overall business performance.