Operations Lead

Wabtec • Duquesne, PA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

L&M Radiator, Inc., a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of custom MESABI cooling and heat transfer solutions, is hiring an Operations Lead for its TTC facility in Pennsylvania. The role oversees assembly and support processes, ensuring consistent daily operations and production of high-quality radiators that meet customer expectations and business goals. It manages production scheduling with suppliers and internal staff, supports supplier development, and champions safety and continuous improvement. The Operations Lead works across departments and with site leadership to strengthen communication, operational consistency, accountability, and excellence. This position reports directly to the North American Production Manager at the Hibbing, Minnesota facility.

The role supervises L&M Warehouse Personnel at TTC and provides hands-on leadership to direct labor teams across all shifts. It includes personnel development and oversight, production planning, performance monitoring, supplier coordination, budget support, and collaboration with Production Engineers and cross-functional partners. Domestic and international travel is required as needed and may include weekends.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 10 years of experience in manufacturing or production leadership, including multi-shift oversight.
• Lean training and experience.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivation.
• Ability to lead by example, coach supervisors and team members, and foster accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, and Lean principles.
• Ability to identify root causes, analyze data, and implement solutions to improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Clear and confident communication skills across all organizational levels, including the ability to facilitate consistent top-down and bottom-up communication.
• Ability to manage priorities across shifts, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing business needs.
• Comfort using production management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Epicor, and reporting tools to track performance and communicate results.
• Commitment to workplace safety and high-quality products that meet customer expectations.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including HR, Engineering, and upper management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
• Ability to pass pre-employment physical, drug, and background tests.
• Ability to sit for long periods and adapt to production-floor work and requirements.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and handle multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required, potentially including weekends.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Successful completion of a drug screen and fitness-for-duty test, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in industrial engineering or a related field.
• Supervisor or people-management experience.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Epicor.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and maintain production schedules to meet delivery targets.
• Improve production efficiency, product quality, and throughput while minimizing downtime through collaboration and innovation.
• Monitor performance using KPIs and report production performance to management.
• Identify and resolve production challenges involving staffing, scheduling, quality, and process improvement.
• Communicate with departments and suppliers about delays or changes to shipping schedules.
• Coordinate plant-wide production activities with site leaders and staff.
• Support development and management of the annual production and operations budget.
• Enforce company policies, safety programs, and operational procedures; ensure work is performed safely.
• Execute directives from management and perform additional duties as assigned.
• Partner with Production Engineers on process improvements and technical initiatives.
• Lead, train, evaluate, and motivate production personnel; maintain appropriate staffing levels.
• Manage overtime across production teams.
• Coordinate work for fabrication suppliers and communicate growth needs.
• Supervise L&M Warehouse Personnel at the TTC facility.
• Manage attendance, scheduling, discipline, and staffing needs for the assigned shift.
• Maintain accurate employee time records and coordinate payroll corrections as needed.
• Provide hands-on leadership and support to direct labor teams across shifts to improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Promote employee engagement and development through communication, coaching, and leadership modeling.
• Lead and support 5S process improvements, daily management initiatives, and Gemba walks.
• Collaborate with leadership to strengthen top-down and bottom-up communication and improve the safety culture.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed, including occasional weekend travel depending on project requirements.

Benefits

• Performance bonus; the role may also be eligible for an annual bonus.
• Health, welfare, and retirement benefits are available; details are provided at mywabtecbenefits.com.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED