Operations Manager

St. Louis, Missouri | Full-time | On-Site Leadership Position At ASI Signage Innovations, we design and deliver architectural signage systems that bring complex environments to life. We serve a wide range of industries, including healthcare, multifamily, corporate, and government sectors. With over 60 years of industry leadership, we are recognized for delivering high-quality, award-winning signage programs. Our teams combine local expertise with national manufacturing capabilities to execute projects at scale. Position Summary The Operations Manager is responsible for the overall execution and performance of ASI Signage Innovations’ St. Louis operational facility. This individual serves as the senior day-to-day operational leader and is accountable for manufacturing, production scheduling, employee performance, workflow accuracy, materials and inventory control, quality, facility organization, and project coordination. This is a hands-on leadership position requiring a technically proficient, process-driven individual who can lead employees while maintaining command of operational details. The successful candidate will actively monitor the manufacturing floor, production schedules, material availability, project status, and operational systems. This leader must take ownership, verify information, identify problems early, communicate risks clearly, and drive issues through resolution. Primary Responsibilities Operational Leadership & Facility Management Lead the day-to-day operations of the St. Louis facility, providing direction, coaching, and accountability to production and other assigned personnel. Establish expectations for performance, productivity, quality, safety, and professional conduct while maintaining an organized and efficient manufacturing environment. Production Planning & Workflow Control Own the master production schedule and coordinate labor, equipment, materials, vendors, capacity, and project priorities to support required completion dates. Monitor projects through manufacturing, identify constraints and bottlenecks, rebalance resources, and communicate risks before they affect customer or installation commitments. CRM / ERP & Systems Management Maintain accurate production, scheduling, purchasing, inventory, labor, and project-status information within Mothernode i2, the company’s CRM/ERP system, and other operational platforms. Ensure employees complete required system updates, verify system information against actual conditions, and use operational data to identify exceptions and improve workflows. Materials, Purchasing & Inventory Control Maintain visibility into material requirements, purchasing activity, open orders, delivery dates, shortages, backorders, receiving, and vendor commitments. Ensure inventory quantities, locations, allocations, and job-related usage are accurate while reducing emergency purchases, avoidable freight, waste, and production downtime. Manufacturing & Quality Coordinate work across fabrication, CNC routing, laser processing, digital and UV printing, paint and finishing, assembly, ADA signage production, packaging, and related operations. Ensure work follows approved drawings, specifications, procedures, and quality requirements while reducing rework, remakes, waste, and preventable field issues. Project Execution & Installation Coordination Coordinate production completion with project and installation schedules, ensuring released projects are complete, properly documented, packaged, and ready for field execution. Work with Project Management, Design & Planning, Sales, Installation, Accounting, and other departments to resolve issues, prioritize competing projects, and support recovery plans. Labor Management & Productivity Plan labor requirements and assign resources based on workload, employee skills, priorities, and available capacity. Monitor productivity, labor utilization, and overtime while coaching employees, addressing performance issues, supporting cross-training, and developing operational bench strength. Financial & Performance Accountability Manage operations with an understanding of project budgets, estimated and actual labor, material costs, gross margin, schedule performance, and the financial impact of operational decisions. Establish and monitor KPIs for schedule adherence, on-time completion, labor efficiency, quality, inventory accuracy, purchasing, overtime, throughput, backlog, and installation readiness. What We’re Looking For ASI is seeking more than an experienced production manager. We are looking for an operational leader who will take ownership of people, processes, systems, and execution. The successful candidate will establish clear expectations, address difficult issues promptly, verify facts before communicating status, and bring proposed solutions when escalating problems. This individual must remain organized when priorities change, make decisions using operational data and sound judgment, and create accountability without creating unnecessary conflict. Strong technical aptitude, attention to detail, critical thinking, communication, and follow-through are essential. The successful candidate will also be committed to developing employees, building repeatable processes, and continuously improving the operation. Required Qualifications Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing, operations, specialty construction, architectural products, signage, custom fabrication, millwork, metal fabrication, or a closely related environment. Minimum of three to five years of direct leadership responsibility for employees and/or supervisors. Experience managing complex, project-based production workflows involving multiple simultaneous projects. Strong knowledge of production scheduling, capacity planning, workflow control, purchasing, material management, and inventory. Demonstrated proficiency with CRM, ERP, MRP, inventory, or manufacturing-management systems and the ability to learn new platforms. Proven ability to establish expectations, hold employees accountable, develop team members, and maintain a productive working environment. Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and follow-through skills. Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with frequently competing priorities. Preferred Qualifications Experience in architectural signage, custom fabrication, engineer-to-order manufacturing, or specialty construction. Knowledge of architectural drawings, shop drawings, construction documents, specifications, and ADA signage requirements. Experience with CNC equipment, digital printing, paint and finishing, fabrication, assembly, or installation. Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, 5S, or similar operational disciplines. Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction Management, or a related discipline. Equivalent demonstrated experience and achievement may be considered in place of formal education. Success in this Position More reliable production schedules, accurate project-status information, and improved on-time completion. Stronger labor productivity, inventory accuracy, material control, and purchasing visibility. Reduced shortages, project firefighting, rework, avoidable mistakes, waste, and unnecessary overtime. Clear employee responsibilities and stronger coordination among Operations, Project Management, Design & Planning, Sales, Installation, & Accounting. Consistent use of the company’s CRM/ERP system as the operational source of truth and earlier identification of project risks. Physical & Working Requirements This is primarily an on-site position operating within both office and active manufacturing environments. The position requires regular walking throughout the facility, standing for extended periods, interacting with production equipment and personnel, and safely functioning in an industrial environment with varying noise levels. Occasional lifting, bending, climbing, and business travel may be required. A valid driver’s license is required. #J-18808-Ljbffr