Job Description

Description

The Plant Operations Manager will lead engineering and operations at Courion, a manufacturing facility dedicated to producing Freight Elevator Systems. This role is pivotal in overseeing site operations with a focus on Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and People. The Plant Operations Manager will partner closely with the local and corporate leadership teams to foster an inclusive culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement, driving performance to meet and exceed the goals of Courion and the broader Vantage organization.

The ideal candidate will be a visible leader on the shop floor with a strong background in manufacturing and engineering, capable of scaling operations, optimizing efficiency through Lean methodologies, and cultivating a high-performing team culture.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership

• Responsible for ensuring the health and safety of every team member within the Courion business.
• Foster and maintain a Safety-First culture, aligned with Vantage’s ABC’s of Safety.
• Ensure all employees understand and adhere to safety procedures and protocols.

Operational Excellence

• Established key business strategies with VP, Manufacturing, with a forward-thinking approach to improve efficiency, profitability, and growth.
• Oversee Quality Management System processes and ensure integration into all operations.
• Develop and track KPIs to measure individual, team, and plant performance.
• Execute corrective actions and countermeasures for underperforming metrics, ensuring quick implementation and continuous improvement.
• Prioritize and manage production schedules considering labor availability, sales forecasts, equipment efficiency, and material supply.
• Reduce aggregate inventory levels by meeting or exceeding inventory goals.
• Establish and manage budgeting and budget execution with a focus on product cost and overall margins. This includes overseeing equipment and capital improvements.

Continuous Improvement

• Champion a Continuous Improvement Culture, implementing systems such as VIP, Kaizen, CAPEX, and Lean Management.
• Lead Gemba walks, layered audits, tiered meetings, and monthly all-employee meetings.
• Identify and implement activities to reduce manufacturing costs and improve operational efficiency.
• Champion site Value Stream Transformation initiatives across front end order/engineering processes and shop floor layout/processes.

Customer Focus

• Ensure a Customer First approach is embedded into the organization.
• Ensure industry-leading delivery performance by maintaining superior standards of quality, lead-time, and accuracy. 
• Collaborate with engineering and product development teams to support new product introductions and align production capabilities with customer needs.

People Leadership

• Attracts, develops, and retains the best talent including a robust succession plan for every key position.
• Foster an inclusive and engaging employee culture with strong reward and recognition systems.
• Lead training and development initiatives to enhance skillsets and drive team performance.

Key Attributes

• Proactive safety leadership and the ability to instill a Safety-First Culture.
• Strong operational mindset with the ability to translate strategic goals into actionable plans.
• Establishes clear goals and objectives and fosters employee engagement at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with a methodical and data-driven approach.
• Strong product engineering capability to streamline design to manufacturing processes.
• High-level influencing and communication skills to drive collaboration and alignment.
• Ability to simplify complex challenges and prioritize multiple initiatives effectively.
• Skilled at adapting workflows to meet evolving demands and time constraints.
• Demonstrates cultural awareness and organizational sensitivity.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Associate’s degree: Engineering, Industrial Technology, Business Administration, or related field; bachelor’s or master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years’ experience in leading manufacturing and engineering organizations.
• Experience in Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with ERP systems (Visual 9 preferred).
• Familiarity with CPQ/CRM systems is a plus.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Outstanding leadership skills with an elevated level of personal integrity.
• Strong grasp of data analysis, performance metrics, and problem-solving.