Nekoosa Coated Products

Operations Manager

Nekoosa Coated Products • $80K — $95K *
Appleton, WI 54915In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field preferred; equivalent production management experience considered
  • 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment
  • Deep understanding of production processes, quality control, and lean manufacturing principles (e.g., Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S)
  • Proven leadership and team management skills, able to motivate and develop a production team
  • Hands-on experience with continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization projects
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective cross-department collaboration
  • Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, production reporting, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Responsibilities

  • Champion Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) compliance, fostering a culture of safety and accountability
  • Own site performance and operational targets, delivering results across multiple metrics
  • Drive operational efficiency and cost improvements through resource optimization
  • Manage production performance, addressing gaps through coaching and process adjustments
  • Ensure production schedules are met, optimizing resources to minimize downtime
  • Collaborate cross-departmentally to ensure smooth operations
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes and enhance effectiveness
  • Promote sustainability and operational responsibility

Benefits

  • Opportunity for professional development and team growth
  • Chance to lead and inspire a high-performing workforce
  • Engagement in continuous improvement initiatives
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams
  • Commitment to health, safety, and environmental sustainability
Full Job Description
Operations Manager

The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all production operations within Appvion's Building 17 facility. This role ensures that production goals are achieved safely, efficiently, and within budget while maintaining the highest quality standards. The manager leads and motivates a team, coordinates cross-departmentally to ensure smooth workflow, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to optimize operational performance.

Key Focus Areas

Core Operations Excellence (60%)

  • Champion Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) compliance, fostering a proactive culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across the site.
  • Own site performance and operational targets, delivering results across safety, quality, service, scrap, housekeeping, and manufacturing expenses.
  • Drive operational efficiency and cost improvements through disciplined execution, resource optimization, and effective budget management.
  • Manage production performance, monitoring key metrics and KPIs, addressing gaps through coaching, process adjustments, and team engagement.
  • Ensure production schedules are consistently met, optimizing workforce, equipment, and material utilization to minimize downtime and maximize throughput.
  • Collaborate across departments, including supply chain, planning, maintenance, quality, and engineering, to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance operational effectiveness.
  • Promote sustainability and operational responsibility, reducing environmental impact, conserving resources, and supporting long-term business objectives.
  • Lead and develop the site team, cultivating skills, accountability, and ownership to strengthen operational performance and succession readiness


Continuous Improvement & Operational Initiatives (20%)

  • Lead and support continuous improvement (CI) initiatives across the site, identifying opportunities to optimize processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.
  • Collaborate with team members to implement improvements and monitor results, ensuring sustainability and measurable impact.
  • Promote a culture of operational excellence and accountability through regular coaching, feedback, and performance tracking.


Organizational Development (20%)

  • Develop and establish top-performing team members who are motivated, accountable, and committed to delivering outstanding results.
  • Collaborate and interface effectively with all cross-functional departments - including Commercial, Finance, HR, Planning, Purchasing, and Product Development - to maximize operational success and enhance expertise across the organization.


Key Attributes & Strengths

  • Motivational and inspiring leadership style that drives team engagement and accountability
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset, focused on operational efficiency and continuous improvement
  • Results-oriented, with a disciplined approach to achieving production, quality, and cost targets
  • Effective communicator and collaborator, able to align cross-functional teams and drive operational success
  • Proactive decision-maker with a hands-on approach to solving production challenges
  • Demonstrates urgency and focus on execution while maintaining a safe and compliant work environment
  • Skilled at developing, coaching, and mentoring team members to build a high-performing, accountable workforce
  • Adaptable and resilient, able to manage changing priorities and maintain performance under pressure


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field preferred; equivalent production management experience considered
  • 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment
  • Deep understanding of production processes, quality control, and lean manufacturing principles (e.g., Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S)
  • Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate, develop, and hold a production team accountable
  • Hands-on experience with continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization projects
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across departments
  • Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, production reporting, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable improvements
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining focus on safety and compliance


About Nekoosa Coated Products

Nekoosa Coated Products is a manufacturer of specialty paper products. The company produces carbonless paper, thermal paper, security paper, and other specialty coated papers. Nekoosa Coated Products serves a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and transportation. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Nekoosa, Wisconsin.
Learn more about Nekoosa Coated Products
Size
500 employees
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$10 million
5 Year Trend
-5%
Revenue
$100 million
* Ladders Estimates

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