Product Line Manager (1156732)

The Judge Group; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Quarterly bonus

Paid time off

Job summary

The Judge Group is seeking an Operations Portfolio Manager in Traverse City, MI to lead the end-to-end strategic execution, financial performance, and lifecycle management for a designated business unit.

This role requires driving safety, product quality, schedule adherence, and cost control while coordinating with engineering, scheduling, and materials teams to optimize throughput and resource use.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical or business discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5–10 years of progressive leadership experience in high-precision technical or industrial operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional unit teams and client interactions.
• Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems and operational excellence methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic execution and lifecycle ownership for a designated business unit.
• Oversee safety, quality, schedule adherence, and cost management.
• Direct floor leadership, resource allocation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with engineering, scheduling, and materials teams to resolve constraints.
• Mentor and guide production staff and line personnel.

Skills

Leadership experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Mentoring team

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Lean/Six Sigma

Job description

Location: Traverse City, MI

Salary: $100,000.00 USD Annually - $110,000.00 USD Annually

Operations Portfolio Manager

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Operations Director, the Operations Portfolio Manager leads the end-to-end strategic execution, financial performance, and operational lifecycle for a designated business unit. This role owns functional accountability across key performance pillars—including workplace safety, quality assurance, schedule adherence, and cost management—while directing floor leadership, resource allocation, equipment utilization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Core Responsibilities

• Operational Execution & Delivery: Champion a culture of safety across all operations while monitoring daily performance metrics (such as schedule compliance, work-in-progress, labor utilization, and material scrap). Address workflow bottlenecks, optimize plant throughput, and manage capacity commitments for scaling volume.
• Financial & Strategic Leadership: Maintain total operational financial accountability (revenue goals, gross margins, quality costs, and budget-to-actual variances) to optimize overall unit profitability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering teams on process capability optimization, cycle time reduction, and operational excellence projects. Collaborate with scheduling and materials management teams to resolve supply constraints and scheduling conflicts.
• Problem-Solving & Governance: Lead root cause corrective action analysis for non-conformances using structured frameworks (such as 8D and standard root-cause methods). Facilitate internal quality audits and prepare analytical reporting packages for high-level program reviews.
• Stakeholder & Team Leadership: Act as the primary liaison for internal leadership and key external partners. Mentor and guide cross-functional unit staff, including production leaders, planners, process engineers, and line personnel.

Performance Metrics (KPIs)

• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Defect Rates / Parts Per Million (PPM)
• First-Pass Yield, Scrap & Rework Percentages
• Unit Cost vs. Target
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) target of $\ge 85% in coordination with the core operations engineering team.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical or business discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5–10 years of progressive leadership experience within high-precision technical or industrial operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional unit teams and client interactions.
• Familiarity with standard quality management regulations and compliance frameworks applicable to regulated environments.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise resource planning systems (ERP/MRP) and operational excellence methodologies.

Preferred

• Advanced Lean / Six Sigma Certification (Black Belt level).
• Formal project management credentials (e.g., PMP).
• Prior direct profit-and-loss (P&L) accountability for an operational unit or division.

Work Environment

Primarily office-based position located within a modern production facility, requiring routine presence on the active floor. Full-time schedule.

Benefits & Compensation Structure

• Day 1 Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA); company-sponsored short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Retirement & Bonus: 401(k) program with company matching contributions and an eligible performance-based quarterly bonus program.
• Paid Leave: Vacation and paid time off benefits.