THIS POSITION IS LOCATED ONSITE IN FONTANA, CA
Plant Operations Manager Position Summary:
Seeking a hands-on, high-energy Plant Operations Manager to lead day-to-day plant operations and drive measurable improvements for a manufacturing operation in Fontana, CA. We’re looking for a strong operational leader who is ready and capable of advancing into a Site Performance Director and ultimately a General Manager role as it scales over the next 36 months and beyond.
Plant Operations Manager Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations in forging, machining, maintenance, EH&S, safety, and shipping/receiving. Must also be capable of working collectively with the executive team to plan and deploy vertical integration machining capabilities, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy and operational excellence objectives.
- Lead all operational areas, including forging and machining operations, maintenance, EH&S, and safety, ensuring alignment to production goals and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Serve as the site SME and champion for Lean tools and continuous improvement, actively coaching teams and driving improvements on the floor. Will also work collectively with the President to develop the Forged Solutions Operational Excellence Model, ensuring best practices are defined, standardized, and deployed across current and future operations.
- Lead daily KPI reviews at the work-center level, and deploy cascading performance management tools that connect frontline metrics to higher-level business goals.
- Develop, deploy, and manage leading indicators to proactively monitor plant performance and predict potential issues before they impact results.
- Lead Kaizen events and daily continuous improvement activities to drive measurable operational gains.
- Develop and mentor CI change agents within the team, building internal capability to drive and sustain continuous improvement efforts.
- Prepare and deliver operational updates, executive-level metrics, and financial performance reports to the executive team, providing clear insights, recommendations, and status on key initiatives.
- Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, and other support services to resolve operational challenges, implement process improvements, and ensure alignment across the plant.
- Monitor and improve KPIs such as throughput, cycle times, scrap rates, labor productivity, quality, and cost performance.
- Maintain a visible presence on the shop floor, engaging with employees, solving problems, and ensuring accountability.
Plant Operations Manager Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Industrial/Operations Management, or significant equivalent manufacturing experience with a minimum 7+ years of experience in manufacturing leadership in a heavy industrial environment, ideally with machining operations.
- Demonstrable, verifiable results in transforming operations and improving key metrics.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with Engineering, Quality, and other support services to achieve operational goals.
- Experience leading cascading performance management tools and driving daily operational accountability.
- Proven ability to plan and lead Kaizen events, driving rapid improvements and engaging teams in problem solving.
- Experience developing and deploying leading indicators to proactively manage plant performance.
- Highly independent and self-directed, capable of operating effectively without daily oversight.
- Quick thinker, able to make sound decisions rapidly in dynamic environments with incomplete information.
- Skilled communicator, comfortable engaging and influencing at all levels—from shop floor personnel to executive leadership, including preparing and delivering executive-level updates, operational metrics, and financial performance reports.
- Experience developing and mentoring CI change agents to build internal continuous improvement capability.
Position offers attractive base salary of $145k - $150k base plus 15% bonus, excellent health & welfare benefits and rapid growth opportunities into higher growth opportunities.
Contact the following for more information:
Dan Witters
Career Transitions, LLC / Morales Professional Services
Office: 800-800-3617 ext. 200
Cell: 574-333-5860
[email protected]
