Senior Operations Manager

Actalent; Town of Oconomowoc (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Health insurance

Dental

Vision

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Sr. Operations Manager to lead a large production operation focused on machining, fabrication, and welding. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, and cost through lean practices and data-driven decisions, overseeing automation, budgeting, and leadership development across ~150 employees.

The role requires strategic and hands-on leadership, with responsibility for process technology and capital deployment, while promoting 5S and continuous improvement across shifts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of management experience in a production manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with broad technical and leadership experience.
• Strong experience in machining/welding and metal fabrication operations.
• Proven experience leading large teams across multiple shifts.
• Demonstrated ability to apply Lean manufacturing tools and methodologies.
• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets, including capital equipment planning.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership coaching to production leaders to strengthen supervisory capabilities.
• Coach teams on Lean tools to drive safety, quality, delivery and cost improvements.
• Ensure visibility to KPIs for daily management and address abnormalities.
• Oversee roadmap for process technology and automation within the operation.
• Use data-driven processes to achieve key performance objectives and improve efficiency.
• Manage staffing, labor utilization and overtime for ~150 employees across shifts.
• Plan and facilitate monthly team meetings to promote communication and collaboration.
• Partner with HR on employee relations, hiring, onboarding and retention initiatives.
• Lead project management activities to deliver operational benefits.
• Ensure welding certifications and compliance for applicable processes.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing

Lean

Budgeting

Welding/Metal fabrication

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Sr. Operations Manager

Job Description

The Sr. Operations Manager leads a large production manufacturing operation with a strong machining, fabrication, and welding focus, driving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance through effective leadership, lean practices, and data-driven decision-making. This role provides strategic and hands-on oversight of production teams, process technology, automation initiatives, and departmental budgeting while developing leaders and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership coaching to Production Team Leaders and Team Captains to strengthen their leadership and supervisory capabilities.

• Coach production teams on appropriate Lean tools and methods to drive continuous improvement in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

• Ensure teams have clear visibility to key performance indicators for daily management and promptly escape and address abnormalities.

• Provide oversight and guidance on the future roadmap for process technology and automation within the operation.

• Utilize data-driven processes and metrics to achieve key performance objectives and improve operational efficiency.

• Manage departmental staffing levels, performance, labor utilization, and overtime metrics for a workforce of approximately 150 employees across first and second shifts.

• Support Team Leaders in planning and facilitating monthly team meetings to promote strong communication, collaboration, process improvements, and goal attainment.

• Partner with Human Resources on employee relations issues, policy administration, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives.

• Lead and coach both direct and indirect teams to ensure key project management activities deliver measurable benefits to the operation.

• Ensure all required welding certifications and compliance requirements are met for applicable processes within the operation.

• Develop and maintain the annual departmental budget, including planning and oversight of capital equipment deployment.

• Promote and maintain shop floor organization and plant cleanliness through 5S practices and standards.

• Oversee machining, welding, and metal fabrication operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production output.

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence across all shifts and functional areas.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 10 years of management experience in a production manufacturing environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with broad technical and leadership experience in production manufacturing.

• Strong experience in machining and/or welding and metal fabrication operations.

• Proven experience leading large teams, including oversight of approximately 150 employees across multiple shifts.

• Demonstrated ability to apply Lean manufacturing tools and methodologies to drive continuous improvement.

• Strong management skills with experience in staffing, performance management, labor planning, and overtime control.

• Ability to use data-driven processes and metrics to manage operations and achieve key performance objectives.

• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets, including capital equipment planning and deployment.

• Capability to ensure compliance with welding certifications and process requirements.

• Effective communication and coaching skills to develop leaders and foster collaboration.

• Experience working in a production manufacturing environment with significant machining, fabrication, and welding components.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

• Demonstrated history of Lean tool deployment in a production environment.

• Prior hands-on experience in machining and/or welding operations.

• Experience leading automation or process technology initiatives.

• Experience in continuous improvement programs, including 5S and shop floor organization.

• Ability to partner effectively with Human Resources on employee relations, hiring, onboarding, and retention.

• Strong project management skills to lead cross-functional initiatives and deliver operational benefits.

Work Environment

The role is based in a modern production facility equipped with heating and air conditioning, with an office located near the shop floor to maintain close connection to operations. The environment centers on machining, welding, and metal fabrication processes supported by ERP systems and automation initiatives. While performing the duties of this job, the employee typically ambulates throughout the facility and frequently uses hands and fingers to interact with equipment, documents, and computer systems. The position requires the ability to lift up to 10 pounds. The facility emphasizes shop floor organization and cleanliness through 5S practices, creating a structured and well-maintained work setting across first and second shifts.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Oconomowoc, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $170000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

401k, health, dental, vision

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Oconomowoc,WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.