Manager, Plant Operations

Colgate • Emporia, KS

3d • Onsite

About The Position

As the Operations Manager reporting to the Plant Manager, you will lead all manufacturing activities to deliver world-class business results and positive employee relations. This role is exciting for a strategic leader who wants to guide and empower team leaders to implement plant strategy and align operations with corporate goals. Your single most important mission is to drive operational excellence and plant performance through the integration of people, materials, and equipment while maintaining 100% compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management or related field.
• 5+ years of Supply Chain experience in Production or Manufacturing Management.
• 2+ years of experience in a manufacturing supervisory role.
• Proven experience in budget management and cost reduction initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or a Supply Chain-related post-graduate degree.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Quality function within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong functional competency in Technology Innovation and Consumer/Competitive Insight.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make critical decisions under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Drive Strategic Site Operations and Performance: Lead the people, materials, and manufacturing processes to deliver plant performance objectives and ensure high service levels for internal and external customers.
• Lead Financial and Resource Management: Own the development and supervision of plant operating budgets while implementing manufacturing cost reduction and productivity programs.
• Champion Continuous Improvement and FP&R: Drive the effective implementation of new technology and Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R) programs to identify and resolve performance gaps.
• Foster Organizational Capability and Labor Strategy: Partner with HR and Plant leadership to develop site labor strategies and empower teams through coaching, appraisals, and professional development.
• Ensure Regulatory and Business Integrity: Maintain accountability for adherence to EOHS, Quality, and Regulatory guidelines while ensuring the integrity of finished goods replenishment and new product introductions.
• Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the site leadership team and direct reports—including Operations Engineers and Area Leaders—to ensure seamless execution of the production schedule.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• basic life insurance
• paid parental leave
• disability coverage
• participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements
• a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave

What This Job Offers

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