7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing or production environments, including 3+ years in plant or operations management
Strong knowledge of sheet metal fabrication processes and equipment
Proven leadership and team management skills focused on employee development
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Experience with high-volume operations, budgets, and ERP systems
Familiarity with Lean, Kaizen, 5S, and ISO-9001 standards
Strong communication skills, with bilingual English/Spanish as a plus
Responsibilities
Direct daily plant operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity goals
Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company objectives
Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety and efficiency
Champion workplace safety and enforce compliance with regulations
Lead initiatives to enhance the safety culture and reduce incidents
Provide coaching and mentorship to plant management and supervisors
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize production processes
Benefits
Health, dental, and vision coverage
Employer-paid and supplemental life insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Generous paid time off and holiday pay
401(k) plan with employer match up to 4%
Education support program
Safety equipment reimbursement
Referral bonuses and bonus plan for full-time employees
Full Job Description
OVERVIEW
Cadrex seeks an accomplished Operations Manager to provide visible, hands-on leadership across plant operations, with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and continuous improvement. This leader will set clear expectations, build and develop a high-performing team, translate business priorities into action, and foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability, and sustained results.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct and manage all daily plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity goals
Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company goals and customer requirements
Monitor and improve plant KPIs including safety, quality, OEE, labor efficiency, throughput, inventory, and on-time delivery
Align production plans, staffing, materials, inventory, shipping, and schedules with cross-functional teams
Remove operational constraints to improve throughput, labor efficiency, equipment utilization, and capacity
Champion workplace safety by enforcing compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, etc.)
Lead initiatives to improve the safety culture within the plant, reducing accidents, injuries, and incidents
Ensure all employees receive the necessary training and adhere to established safety protocols and procedures
Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to the plant management team and supervisors, ensuring alignment with company values and objectives
Foster a collaborative, results-driven work environment that promotes teamwork, innovation, and accountability
Recruit, train, and develop plant staff, focusing on skills development and succession planning
Manage plant budgets and control operating costs, ensuring expenditures align with financial targets
Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives while maintaining production efficiency and product quality
Collaborate with the finance department to forecast plant financial performance and adjust operations accordingly
Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the plant to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve product quality
Implement lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies to optimize production processes and increase productivity
Promote a culture of problem-solving and root-cause analysis to identify opportunities for improvement
Ensure that products meet or exceed customer specifications, industry standards, and internal quality requirements
Work closely with the quality assurance team to resolve quality issues and implement preventive measures
Support the development and maintenance of quality control systems to monitor production outputs
Coordinate with the supply chain team to ensure the timely procurement of raw materials, parts, and components necessary for production
Manage inventory levels to support production needs without excess material or waste
Act as the main point of contact between the plant and corporate leadership, providing regular updates on plant performance, challenges, and opportunities
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support new product development, capacity planning, and customer satisfaction
Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies
Align production plans, staffing, materials, inventory, shipping, and schedules with cross-functional teams
Manage plant KPIs, remove constraints, and improve throughput, labor efficiency, equipment performance, and capacity
Maintain compliance with company, customer, OSHA, EPA, quality, and other regulatory requirements
Manage budgets, forecasts, operating expenses, and cost-reduction initiatives
Coach supervisors and plant staff through training, performance management, and succession planning
Lead Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, root-cause, and corrective-action efforts
Report plant performance and build effective relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and corporate leadership
Requirements
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
7+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment, including 3+ years in plant or operations management
Strong knowledge of sheet metal fabrication manufacturing processes and equipment
Strong leadership and team management skills, with a focus on employee development, coaching, and motivation
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a hands-on approach to operational challenges
Ability to analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions and improve plant performance
Experience with high-volume operations, budgets, P&L, production planning, and ERP systems
Working knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, 5S, safety, environmental, and quality systems
Experience in managing an ISO-9001 certified facility
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with all levels of the organization
Bilingual English / Spanish a plus
EDUCATION
Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field preferred
Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience may be considered
LOCATION
Onsite
SCHEDULE
M-F
TOTAL COMPENSATION INCLUDES
Health/dental/vision coverage
Employer-paid and supplemental life insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Generous paid time off and holiday pay
Monthly remote work stipend (for remote employees who qualify)
401(k) investment plan, with an employer match of up to 4%
Education support program
Safety eyeglasses/shoe reimbursement
Referral bonuses
Bonus plan for all full-time employees
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and occasionally loud.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
CADREX'S CORE VALUES
Safety first, rising to the challenge, collaboration, accountability, and doing the right thing
