Area Manager

Hach•Ames, IA

13h•$82,000 - $97,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Hach, a Veralto company, we ensure water quality for people around the world, and every team member plays a vital role in that mission. Our founding vision is to make water analysis better—faster, simpler, greener, and more informative. We accomplish this through teamwork, customer partnerships, passionate experts, and reliable, easy-to-use solutions. As part of our team and the broader Veralto network, you’ll be part of a unique work environment where purpose meets possibility: where you’ll make an immediate, measurable impact on a global scale by enabling the world’s everyday water needs, and where you’ll have opportunities to foster your professional development and fuel your career growth. Motivated by the highest possible stakes in climate change and global health, we’re working together within a rapidly digitizing industry to find innovative technologies that guarantee the safety of our water and our environment. Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Area Manager, Production provides leadership and hands-on support for the production and manufacturing of the Production department. This role leads teams to meet customer requirements through safe, efficient, and high-quality operations, adjusting plans to meet operational needs. This position is part of the Operations team located in Ames, IA, and will be an on-site day shift.

Requirements

Minimum 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated people leadership experience.
Experience applying lean manufacturing tools (e.g., Kaizen, Kanban, root cause analysis, countermeasures).
Working knowledge of KPIs and basic financial understanding.

Responsibilities

Lead daily production operations to meet internal and external customer demand while maintaining safe working conditions and product quality.
Set direction and manage projects across areas of responsibility to achieve short- and long-term operational objectives using continuous improvement and lean manufacturing methods.
Partner cross-functionally to plan labor and materials against customer orders to achieve delivery objectives.
Optimize labor resources through cross-training to improve flexibility and operational performance.
Communicate timely business information and ensure compliance with work policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements (e.g., ISO, FDA, EPA).
Develop associates through coaching, performance evaluation, career planning, and merit recommendations; support engagement, retention, and hiring in partnership with HR.
Maintain audit readiness and oversee the safe, effective use of department equipment.