Assistant Operations Manager

ASR Group•Buffalo, NY

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Operations Manager - Packaging Operations is a highly driven manufacturing leader responsible for stabilizing daily execution, strengthening operational discipline, and supporting performance recovery in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. This role extends beyond traditional supervisory responsibilities and serves as a tactical leader focused on operational stabilization, accountability, and cross-shift consistency. The successful candidate maintains a strong presence on the production floor, drives structured communication, and supports supervisors in real-time decision-making to close performance gaps and reinforce safety, quality, and performance standards across all shifts.

Requirements

3-5 years of progressive experience in manufacturing, packaging, or operations leadership roles preferred.
Experience leading teams in a food, beverage, consumer products, or similarly automated production environment is highly desirable.
Proven ability to successfully meet customer and management deadlines
Highly organized, self-starter that can work with little direct supervision
Strong floor leadership presence with a hands-on approach to daily manufacturing operations.
Ability to drive accountability while maintaining team engagement and credibility with frontline employees and supervisors.
Solid understanding of packaging operations, equipment reliability, operator discipline, and line performance drivers.
Demonstrated ability to stabilize performance in fast-paced, high-pressure, or transitional operating environments.
Strong analytical and data-driven mindset with experience using KPIs to identify trends, prioritize actions, and improve results.
Effective prioritization, follow-up, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage both administrative work and floor execution.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence hourly teams, supervisors, and senior leadership.
Proven coaching skills focused on supervisor development, frontline execution, and reinforcement of standards.
Ability to remain calm but firm under pressure and make sound decisions in real time.
Strong conflict management, problem-solving, and escalation judgment.
Structured, organized, and disciplined approach to execution and follow-through.
High ownership mentality and adaptability in changing operational environments.
Experience with operational systems and tools such as Redzone, downtime tracking, escalation workflows, and shift communication processes.
Commitment to maintaining safety, quality, and process consistency while driving performance improvement.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Provide visible, hands-on leadership on the production floor to support daily packaging operations and reinforce execution standards.
Stabilize underperforming or high-downtime operations by identifying gaps, driving corrective actions, and maintaining urgency around issue resolution.
Strengthen accountability and alignment among front-line supervisors by setting clear expectations, following up on commitments, and reinforcing operational discipline.
Improve shift-to-shift communication through structured pass-downs, escalation processes, and consistent use of shift communication tools.
Monitor and improve key performance indicators including OEE, downtime, speed loss, schedule attainment, labor efficiency, and waste reduction.
Partner with Maintenance, Planning, and Quality to resolve production issues, reduce downtime, and improve execution consistency across the Packaging Department.
Support supervisors in real-time decision-making related to staffing, line issues, prioritization, and escalation of operational concerns.
Reinforce operator training, standard work, and process discipline to improve consistency, reliability, and adherence to procedures.
Drive use of operational systems and tools such as Redzone, escalation processes, standard work documentation, and performance tracking mechanisms.
Lead with urgency while maintaining compliance with safety, quality, and company standards.
Balance administrative responsibilities with active floor support, ensuring timely follow-up on action items, reporting, and performance reviews.
Coach and develop supervisors to strengthen leadership capability, conflict management, communication, and frontline execution.
Escalate critical issues quickly and communicate clearly with plant leadership regarding risks, recovery plans, and operational priorities.
Support off-shift and weekend operational needs as required to maintain continuity and performance.