Operations Manager

Job Description

Are you ready to take the next step in your manufacturing leadership career?

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We’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead a high-volume automotive manufacturing operation in Louisville, KY. This is an excellent opportunity for a strong automotive operations leader looking to make a significant impact and grow into a future Plant Manager role.

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What You Will Be Doing

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• Lead daily manufacturing operations across three shifts, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, cost, and production targets are met.
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• Lead and develop production supervisors and technical teams while overseeing a large workforce across three shifts.
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• Drive operational improvements, productivity, and accountability across the manufacturing operation.
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• Monitor key performance indicators, production metrics, labor costs, budgets, and overall financial performance.
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• Implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce scrap, improve efficiency, and strengthen operational results.
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• Develop supervisors and technical leaders through coaching, performance management, and employee development.
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• Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and PC&L (Production Control & Logistics) to resolve issues and improve plant performance.
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• Lead organizational change while maintaining employee engagement and a collaborative team environment.
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• Support production planning, labor allocation, and resource management across all three shifts.
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• Work closely with the Plant Manager to execute operational goals and prepare for future plant leadership responsibilities.
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What We Need From You

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To be considered for this role, candidates must have the following experience and skills:

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• 7+ years of experience in high-volume automotive manufacturing operations with a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 automotive supplier.
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• 3+ years of experience leading multiple supervisors and large production teams.
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• Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgets, labor costs, operating KPIs, and profitability.
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• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, production management, and key operational metrics across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
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• Demonstrated ability to develop leaders, drive accountability, and improve manufacturing performance.
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• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
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• Ability to lead change, engage employees, and work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
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All-Star Skillset

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The ideal candidate will also have any or all of the following preferred experience and skills:

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• Experience in high-volume automotive assembly, welding, metal fabrication, or similar manufacturing processes.
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• Experience with P&L responsibilities, budgeting, scrap reduction, and productivity improvements.
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• Familiarity with SAP, ERP systems, Lean Manufacturing, and customer scorecards.
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• Experience supporting product launches, process improvements, or major operational changes.
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• A proven track record of improving plant performance while developing strong, accountable teams.
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The Perks

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• Company-provided cell phone.
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• 401(k) with a 100% company match on the first 4% contributed and immediate vesting.
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• Training and professional development opportunities.
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• A supportive environment that emphasizes coaching, employee development, and strong working relationships.
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• Opportunity to lead a large, established automotive manufacturing operation.
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• Significant exposure to plant strategy, financial performance, cross-functional leadership, and operational decision-making.
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• A clear succession path toward a future Plant Manager position.
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StaffBright – Who We Are

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StaffBright connects exceptional professionals with fulfilling opportunities in Finance, IT, Engineering, and Sales and Marketing. By partnering with industry-leading organizations, we help accelerate careers while delivering outstanding results for our clients. At StaffBright, we go beyond traditional staffing by fostering close collaboration with our clients, recruiters, and candidates to ensure talent needs are met efficiently. Our commitment to building long-term relationships and driving success sets us apart as a trusted partner in the staffing industry.