Senior Operations Manager

MEA Energy; Valparaiso (IN); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

MEA Energy seeks a Plant Manager to lead a large-scale production operation in a heavy industrial environment. You will oversee safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall performance while driving optimization and value across maintenance and production teams.

In this role, you will own financial performance, manage budgets, and advance continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and product quality in a unionized setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in heavy manufacturing or industrial operations.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead division operations with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall performance.
• Drive production performance, throughput, and efficiency while ensuring compliance with operational and regulatory standards.
• Partner with maintenance leadership to ensure equipment reliability, uptime, and alignment with production goals.
• Own financial performance, including cost control, budgeting, and execution of operating plans.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve product quality.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Core Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in heavy manufacturing or industrial operations.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in metals, steel, or other heavy industrial manufacturing environments.
• Background in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence initiatives.

The successful candidate will lead a large-scale production operation within a complex, heavy industrial environment. This role is responsible for overall performance across production, maintenance, quality, safety, and workforce effectiveness. The Plant Manager provides strategic and hands-on leadership to deliver operational excellence, drive continuous improvement, and achieve financial and performance objectives in a unionized environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead division operations with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and overall performance.
• Drive production performance, throughput, and efficiency while ensuring compliance with operational and regulatory standards.
• Partner with maintenance leadership to ensure equipment reliability, uptime, and alignment with production goals.
• Own financial performance, including cost control, budgeting, and execution of operating plans.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve product quality.