Senior Operations Manager

Position Summary

The Senior Operations Manager is responsible for leading all plant operations to ensure the safe, efficient, and profitable execution of manufacturing activities. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across Production, Safety, Quality, Logistics, Maintenance, Facilities, and external service providers while ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer expectations, and operational performance targets.

The position serves as the primary site leader for daily operations, driving a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. The Senior Operations Manager collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, customers, suppliers, and external partners to optimize productivity, control costs, improve quality, and support sustainable business growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including plant operations, production, or manufacturing management.
• 5+ years of experience leading multiple functional areas within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience managing direct and indirect personnel in production environments.
• Strong experience overseeing cross-functional operations, including Production, Quality, Logistics, Maintenance, Safety, and Facilities.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and external service providers.
• Strong business acumen with experience managing operational budgets, resource planning, and cost control initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives and operational performance programs.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience driving operational KPIs including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity, Scrap, OEE, and Cost.
• Excellent leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
• Advanced English proficiency (written and verbal).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the automotive manufacturing industry.
• Knowledge of plastic injection molding processes.
• Experience with machining operations and manufacturing technologies.
• Experience supporting startup operations, plant expansions, or major operational transformations.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience managing third-party vendors operating within manufacturing facilities.
• Experience with supplier performance management and contract administration.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), Operations Management, or related field.
• Experience leading ISO, IATF 16949, or similar manufacturing quality systems.
• Strong knowledge of capital project management and facility improvements.
• Experience managing facilities, utilities, and infrastructure services within a manufacturing environment.

Position Overview

The Senior Operations Manager provides overall leadership for manufacturing operations and serves as the primary point of coordination across all operational functions within the facility. The role is responsible for ensuring that safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial objectives are achieved while maintaining a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities include directing daily operations across Production, Quality, Logistics, Maintenance, Safety, and Facilities, ensuring efficient resource utilization and operational stability. The position develops and executes operational strategies aligned with company goals, monitors plant performance metrics, and drives corrective actions to address risks and performance gaps.

The Senior Operations Manager partners closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted business operations, including the management of supplier relationships, service providers, contractors, and third-party organizations operating within the facility. This role plays a critical part in negotiating operational agreements, resolving escalations, managing shared-service arrangements, and ensuring compliance with contractual, safety, and operational requirements.

Additionally, the position leads workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement initiatives to build a strong and sustainable operational organization. The role champions Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement programs, and operational excellence initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance overall business performance.

The Senior Operations Manager is also responsible for coordinating site services, maintenance programs, facilities management activities, and strategic supplier relationships to ensure a safe, reliable, and productive manufacturing environment. The role supports capital investments, facility improvements, and long-term operational planning while ensuring compliance with environmental, health, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Success in this position requires strong leadership presence, financial acumen, negotiation skills, operational expertise, and the ability to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day execution while fostering a collaborative and results-oriented culture.

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