Manager, Operations

D&W Fine Pack • Fort Wayne, IN

18d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager will drive operational excellence by focusing on safety, productivity, quality, employee engagement, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives. This position plays a key role in achieving production goals, improving efficiencies, minimizing downtime and waste, and supporting a culture of accountability and teamwork throughout the facility.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience required.
• Previous experience managing supervisors and multiple production departments required.
• Experience in plastics manufacturing, food packaging, extrusion, thermoforming, automated packaging, or related manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Experience with PET strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational metrics.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and employee development experience.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and manufacturing/ERP systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience overseeing high-speed manufacturing and automated production environments.
• Knowledge of food-grade manufacturing and GMP compliance.
• Experience with extrusion equipment, robotic automation, and thermoforming operations.
• Ability to improve production efficiency, reduce downtime, and minimize scrap.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily manufacturing operations across all shifts.
• Support leadership to ensure operational effectiveness and equipment reliability.
• Ensure production schedules, efficiency goals, quality standards, and customer demands are consistently achieved.
• Monitor and analyze operational metrics including productivity, downtime, scrap, labor utilization, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Maintain strong floor presence while providing hands-on leadership and operational support within the manufacturing environment.
• Coordinate staffing, labor allocation, and production priorities to meet changing business needs and customer demands.
• Drive accountability and operational discipline throughout all production departments.
• Oversee the production of high-volume plastic extrusion, reprocessing, and compounding operations that is focused on safety, quality, and productivity.
• Manage operations involving PET, polypropylene, and polystyrene.
• Support and optimize production performance across multiple lines.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering teams to improve machine uptime, process consistency, scrap reduction, and overall production efficiency.
• Oversee the manufacturing high-volume thermoforming operation that is focused on safety, quality, and productivity.
• Manage production operations involving various CK’s, Lyles, Irwin, and Keifel machines.
• Oversee packaging processes including hand pack, and auto-bag.
• Ensure product quality, color consistency, and packaging accuracy for customer specifications.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Shift Supervisors, Setup Technicians, and Maintenance Technicians to strengthen leadership capabilities and operational performance.
• Conduct performance evaluations, corrective actions, and employee development planning.
• Develops and executes improvement plans for the plant.
• Foster a culture focused on accountability, communication, teamwork, and employee engagement.
• Support employee retention initiatives and workforce development efforts.
• Partner with HR regarding staffing, attendance management, employee relations, and performance concerns.
• Promote and maintain a strong safety-first culture throughout all manufacturing areas.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, GMPs, food safety standards, and company policies.
• Conduct safety audits, incident investigations, and corrective action follow-up.
• Ensure employees consistently follow safe work practices and PPE requirements.
• Partner with Quality teams to ensure products meet customer specifications and food packaging standards.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, waste reduction, scrap reduction, and process optimization.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing and problem-solving methodologies to improve manufacturing performance.
• Support investigations related to quality concerns, customer complaints, and process deviations.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k with company match
• Short and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD)
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• FSAs for Medical & Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) –counseling, financial tools, legal help & more
• Wellness program
• Cancer Expert Now – access to expert consultations for cancer diagnosis and treatment guidance
• And more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager