Manufacturing Operations Manager

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Position Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and managing manufacturing and operational activities supporting CVG's production operations team that is focused on producing, packaging and shipping products to our aftermarket commercial vehicle customers. The Vonore facility produces commercial vehicle seats.This role requires a hands-on manufacturing leader with a strong background in production management, plant operations, and continuous improvement, preferably within the automotive, commercial vehicle, heavy-duty truck, or industrial manufacturing industries.This position will particularly oversee the operational execution of aftermarket products, ensuring alignment between manufacturing, supply chain, customer service, sales, engineering, and finance. The role will also be responsible for partnering with our materials and other teams in coordinating inventory, warehouse, logistics, and distribution activities to ensure reliable fulfillment of customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Manufacturing & Production Operations

• Lead and manage day-to-day manufacturing and production operations, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are achieved.
• Provide hands-on leadership on the production floor, actively monitoring performance, identifying operational issues, and implementing corrective actions.
• Manage production schedules, capacity planning, labor utilization, and resource allocation to meet customer demand.
• Work with internal and external partners to ensure that the aftermarket production planning,inventory and shipping schedules meet the demands of our customers.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, scrap reduction, labor optimization, and cost control.
• Establish and monitor key manufacturing KPIs, including OEE, productivity, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, and on-time delivery.
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with company standards, customer requirements, and applicable safety and quality regulations.

2. OEM & Customer Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with OEM customers and key business partners.
• Understand OEM requirements, production demands, delivery expectations, and quality standards.
• Coordinate with internal teams to address customer concerns, delivery issues, engineering changes, and demand fluctuations.
• Evaluate customer requests and operational requirements to determine feasibility, cost, capacity, and potential business impact.
• Proactively communicate operational constraints and recommend appropriate solutions, including cost adjustments when additional requirements or scope changes justify them.
• Support customer satisfaction through consistent operational execution and reliable service.

3. Aftermarket Operations

• Oversee operational activities supporting aftermarket products, ensuring timely fulfillment to OEM service networks, dealers, distributors, and fleet customers.
• Ensure alignment between production capabilities, inventory availability, and aftermarket demand.
• Coordinate with manufacturing and commercial teams to address product availability, service requirements, and delivery commitments.
• Identify opportunities to improve aftermarket operational performance and customer service.

4. Supply Chain, Inventory & Distribution

• Oversee inventory management, material availability, warehouse operations, logistics, and distribution activities.
• Ensure effective management of raw materials, finished goods, and aftermarket inventory.
• Establish appropriate inventory controls and strategies to minimize excess and obsolete inventory while maintaining service levels.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Materials teams to resolve shortages, optimize inventory levels, and improve material flow.
• Monitor transportation and distribution costs while ensuring customer delivery requirements are met.

5. Financial & Operational Performance

• Manage operational budgets, expenses, and resources to achieve financial targets.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities without compromising safety, quality, or customer satisfaction.
• Monitor operational performance against established business objectives and implement improvement plans when necessary.
• Provide regular performance updates to leadership, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.

6. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and motivate cross-functional operational teams.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance objectives.
• Build a culture focused on safety, operational discipline, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate effectively with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, and Finance.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations leadership.
• Direct experience as an Operations Manager, Plant Manager, Production Manager, or equivalent manufacturing leadership position.
• Demonstrated experience managing production operations and leading teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, capacity management, and operational KPIs.
• Experience working directly with OEM customers, preferably in the automotive, commercial vehicle, heavy-duty truck, or industrial manufacturing sectors.
• Proven track record of improving manufacturing performance, productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work hands-on in a manufacturing environment and engage directly with production teams.

Preferred:

• Experience in commercial vehicle, automotive, heavy-duty truck components, seating systems, or industrial manufacturing.
• Experience supporting OEM aftermarket operations, service parts, or replacement components.
• Experience managing warehouse, logistics, inventory, and distribution operations.
• Knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent platforms.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

Key Success Factors

• Strong manufacturing and production leadership background.
• Hands-on approach with a consistent presence on the production floor.
• Ability to balance customer expectations with manufacturing capabilities and business profitability.
• Strong understanding of OEM requirements and customer relationship management.
• Effective management of production, inventory, and operational costs.
• Ability to drive accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Leadership Profile

We are looking for a results-driven, hands-on manufacturing leader who understands how a plant operates from the production floor to the customer. This individual must be comfortable making operational decisions, challenging customer requirements when necessary, identifying cost implications, and working cross-functionally to deliver the right solutions.

The successful candidate will combine strong production management experience with customer-facing capabilities and an understanding of OEM-driven manufacturing environments.

CVG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc (CVG) is an equal employment opportunity employer such that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Visa Sponsorship

At this time, we are not providing sponsorship for this role. Applicants must be authorized to work in the country of the job posting location on a full-time basis.

No Unauthorized Referrals from Recruiters & Vendors

Please note that Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc (CVG) and any of its affiliated companies does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or offers from third party recruiters or staffing agencies associated with any published or unpublished employment opportunities. Any unsolicited information sent to CVG will be considered as unencumbered and free from any fee or charge whatsoever. Only members of our Human Resources Team have the authority to engage or authorize recruiting services, which must be agreed upon before any resume or offer is received.

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Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) makes no representations or guarantees regarding employment opportunities listed on any third-party website. To protect against career scams, job applicants should take the necessary precautions when interviewing for and accepting employment positions allegedly offered by CVG. Applicants should never provide their national ID numbers, birth dates, credit card numbers, bank account information or other private information when communicating with prospective employers or responding to employment opportunities online. Job applicants are invited to contact CVG through CVG's website to verify the authenticity of any employment opportunities.