Operations Manager - Manufacturing

This is an ITAR facility - only those that are natural citizens or current green card holders will be considered for this opportunity.

We’re partnering with a growing industrial manufacturer specializing in precision investment cast components seeking a hands-on Operations Leader to take ownership of the front-end casting process and elevate overall plant performance.

This role reports to executive leadership and will oversee critical early-stage production operations including wax processing, robotic shell/dip operations, and upstream production flow. The facility operates in a multi-shift environment with multiple production supervisors leading frontline teams.

The organization is at a key inflection point and is looking for a leader who can strengthen process discipline, reduce rework and repeat passes, and drive measurable improvements in delivery performance, productivity, and cost control.

What You’ll Own

• Full leadership of front-end manufacturing operations (wax, shell, robotic dip, and related process areas)
• Oversight of production supervisors and large direct labor teams
• Driving throughput improvements and reducing second/third pass activity
• Improving on-time delivery and schedule adherence
• Managing fixed and variable production budgets
• Reducing scrap and rework through process control and root cause analysis
• Partnering closely with Engineering, Quality, Materials, and Sales to align output with customer demand
• Developing capital and process improvement plans to modernize operations
• Building a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement

What We’re Looking For

• MUST BE a natural US Citizen or an active Green Card holder
• 5–10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience
• Strong background in investment casting, foundry, or complex metal manufacturing environments preferred
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean / Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Experience improving flow, cycle time, and cost performance
• Data-driven decision maker who understands KPIs, margin drivers, and operational metrics
• Bachelor’s degree required (Engineering strongly preferred)
• Six Sigma / Lean certification a plus

Ideal Profile

• High floor presence — visible, engaged, and hands-on
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into action
• Comfortable managing supervisors and leading large hourly teams
• Proven ability to stabilize processes and elevate operational discipline
• Big-picture thinker who can execute tactically