Operations Manager - Precision Machining

A well-established and growing manufacturing company in the western suburbs of Chicago is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead daily plant operations and drive continuous improvement initiatives across production, quality, scheduling, and team performance. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and has a strong background managing people, processes, and production performance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and on-time delivery
• Lead and develop production supervisors, leads, and plant personnel
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and operational excellence
• Monitor production schedules and coordinate with planning, engineering, and quality teams
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, company policies, and manufacturing procedures
• Analyze KPIs, production metrics, downtime, and labor utilization to improve plant performance
• Support hiring, training, coaching, and performance management of operations staff
• Collaborate with leadership on strategic operational goals and capacity planning
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement corrective actions
• Maintain strong communication across departments to support customer expectations and production goals

Qualifications

• 5+ years of operations or manufacturing management experience
• Strong leadership background in a manufacturing environment
• Experience managing production teams, supervisors, and plant operations
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational metrics
• Ability to drive accountability and improve plant performance
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with machining, metal manufacturing, fabrication, or industrial production environments is preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on experience
• Full benefits package
• Stable and growing company environment
• Long-term career growth opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on operations leader looking to make a significant impact within a growing manufacturing organization.