Operations Manager - Switchgear
About The Position
IEM is seeking Operations Managers for their switchgear team in Surrey, B.C. This role reports to the Director of Operations and is responsible for the end-to-end ownership of the production value stream. The Operations Manager will drive operational performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and customer expectations. The position is accountable for meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and efficiency, while fostering a data-driven, bottom-up problem-solving culture. The role involves leading a cross-functional production team and applying workflow optimization, resource utilization, and Lean manufacturing principles. Collaboration with Planning, Materials, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance is crucial for process optimization, bottleneck resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives to support business growth.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations environments
- 5+ years in a supervisory or managerial role (Operations Manager, Production Manager, Production Supervisor Manufacturing Manager, Value Stream Leadership roles.
- Proven track record of improving KPIs (e.g., cycle time reduction, FPY improvements, DPU reductions, or cost-saving initiatives).
- Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to develop, coach, and manage cross-functional teams, ensuring accountability and engagement.
- Data-Driven Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with experience in using KPIs, root cause analysis, and Lean tools to drive decision-making.
- Process Optimization: Hands-on experience in Lean manufacturing, value stream mapping, waste elimination, and production workflow optimization.
- Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to communicate effectively with shop floor teams, peers, and senior leadership, ensuring alignment across the organization.
- Time Management & Prioritization: Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
- Technical Proficiency: Experience with ERP/MRP systems (INFOR/Syteline a plus), Tableau, and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for reporting and data analysis.
- Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization.
Nice To Haves
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher) preferred.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus.
- APICS, CPIM, or other supply chain-related certification is a plus for materials-heavy value streams.
Responsibilities
- Own, monitor, and drive improvement in key performance indicators (KPIs) including on-time delivery (OTD), first-pass yield (FPY), defects per unit (DPU), safety incidents, and cost efficiency within the value stream.
- Oversee daily production activities, ensuring work is executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with production schedules, quality standards, and operational goals.
- Manage and develop a cross-functional team including production, quality, materials, and maintenance. Set expectations, provide coaching, and ensure accountability at all levels.
- Partner with Production Planning and Materials teams to align demand with capacity, ensuring a balanced workflow, efficient material usage, and optimized labor deployment.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for operational issues, using tools such as Pareto analysis, A3 problem-solving, and process mapping to drive improvements.
- Champion Lean manufacturing principles, eliminating waste and driving efficiency through 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) initiatives.
- Work closely with Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance teams to identify and resolve design, process, or equipment issues affecting production.
- Ensure adherence to safety policies, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. Champion a culture of zero injuries and high-quality production.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and organization.
Benefits
- A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package
- full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
