OPERATIONS MANAGER

The Operations Manager may be responsible for all operational activities including production floor, engineering, planning, scheduling, buying, inventory management, quality assurance, and continuous improvement for one or more business units. At times, this position may also be responsible for sales staff. This position will utilize tools and processes to strategically support continuous improvement, organizational growth, and development. The Operations Manager will possess a strong working knowledge of the production sequence and will recommend changes to the sequence and process to maximize efficiencies. Additionally, they will act as a liaison between Sales, Estimating, Engineering, Purchasing, and Operations. This position will foster continuous improvement and operational excellence across the team to shape the team’s performance, people-focused culture, and meet organizational goals.

Essential Job Functions

• Responsible for coaching, teaching, and supervising of assigned personnel.
• Responsible for effective employee relations. Initiates and is proactive with employee coaching and development. Resolves employee issues through identifying problems and resolutions.
• Provide on-site leadership for team by building and motivating team members to meet goals while adhering to their responsibilities and milestones.
• Balance and drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, cost, constraining, and morale in all responsible areas.
• Responsible for the performance management (hiring, development, discipline, termination) of direct reports while collaborating with Human Resources.
• Responsible for building and maintaining business relationships, which includes working with all levels of the company.
• Manages one or more operational product line staff, including monitoring, evaluating, counseling, disciplining, and appraising job performance.
• Own inventory management and work closely with purchasing and vendors to improve inventory levels, safety stock, and lot sizes appropriately. Review inventory frequently to mitigate the increase of unnecessary or slow-moving inventory.
• Develop and implement plans to document project scope, schedule, tasks, risk management, and reports to communicate progress to the team.
• Utilize visual management tools for production, buying, planning, engineering, etc.
• Review and maintain routers, work centers, capacity data, etc.
• Identify and coordinate resource needs cross-functionally throughout the organization.
• Collaborate cross-functionally as the primary liaison with others and other departments to determine objectives, track progress, troubleshoot challenges, execute deliverables assigned to projects, provide lead time quotation while considering resource availability and develop plans to achieve customers’ needs.
• Identify and analyze risks and inefficiencies and actively seek out opportunities to troubleshoot and resolve. Communicate plan and solutions; track and update progress routinely.
• Ability to quickly understand technical aspects of operations, both from a functionality perspective as well as an operations perspective, and be able to articulate these to a less technical audience.
• Drive operational efficiency by implementing and overseeing streamlined processes within the operations team and gain buy-in from other departments. Guide to facilitate regular reviews, updates, and enhancements to our processes, ensuring continuous improvement and effectiveness.
• Lead continuous improvement activities to drive improvement throughout operations.
• Drive and lead sales as required by the business unit.
• Ensures lessons learned are applied to future efforts.
• Attend company-led Leadership Training.
• Provide training and guidance to grow and develop other Supervisors as needed.
• Drive to exceed personal/team/Company goals by holding self and team to high-performance standards.
• The ability to work in a constant state of alertness and a safe manner.
• Travel to customer locations including international travel could be up to 10% as required by the project.
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Regular, in-person attendance due to necessary teamwork and personal interactive nature of this position.
• Performs other related duties, as needed and assigned, including backup for other department personnel, to ensure support of the production plan.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (Competencies)

• Leadership skills to lead, develop, and coach others in a proactive manner.
• Knowledge of principles and procedures for employee selection, development, and training.
• Excellent communication skills both orally and written.
• Experience with technologies and best practices across multiple platforms.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage time effectively, prioritize and multitask in a constantly changing environment.
• Ability to take initiative to develop new strategies and outside-the-box ideas.
• Ability to work independently or in a team with demonstration of excellent leadership skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with individuals at all levels.
• Ability to analyze difficult situations and react in a timely manner.
• Computer skills using Microsoft Office, ERP systems, JDE, Project Management, and scheduling software such as MS Project or Primavera P6.
• Self-starter and goal oriented who will provide successful resolution of issues in a timely manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills and organization skills with a mechanical aptitude that allows for effective communication of the product to our customers.
• Advanced knowledge of master scheduling of a finished product with multiple levels of processes required to reach the finished stage
• Advanced knowledge of engineering prints and manufacturing capacity to effectively determine need dates for components
• Advanced knowledge of the master data that drives forecasting, planning, scheduling, and shipping within an ERP system

Education And Experience

• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering, Materials Management or other degree fields is required; MBA preferred.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in a manufacturing environment, or similar experience, is required, of which at least five (5) years must be in a management or supervisory role, with demonstrated success in team leadership and facilitation. Demonstrate an understanding of the practices used in manufacturing and related functions, including budget & finances, supply chain management, Engineering, R&D, workflow and staffing and continuous improvement.
• Lean/Six Sigma Master Certification or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of hiring.
• OSHA 30 - Hour General Industry Safety and Health or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of hiring.

Base Compensation Range

$121,990 - $208,667 annually

Variable Compensation Range

Incentive bonus eligibility up to 12% of gross annual salary base on company performance.

Health and Ancillary Benefit Overview

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance with low employee premiums
• Free off-site medical clinic
• Company paid Life Insurance & Short-Term Disability
• 401k - Employer match of up to 4.0% for coworker contributions of 8.0% or more
• Company covers tuition costs up to $5,250.00 annually, contingent on course completion and grades
• Paid Time Off and Sick, Family & Parental Paid Time Off
• Ten (10) Paid Holidays
• Four-day work weeks, varied shifts, and flexible remote work options depending on position
• Career progression program for advancement
• Free in-house welding, grinding & machine operation school
• In-house training program

Professional office environment with some time spent in a manufacturing shop. Use of standard office equipment (computers, phones, copiers, and filing cabinets, etc.). Frequent presence on the manufacturing floor as well as field operations. Exposure to conditions, such as: dust, fumes, noise and high-degree varying seasonal temperatures.

Applicants for Paul Mueller Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

Paul Mueller Company is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran