Operations Manager, Wrap Production

Slate Auto•Louisville, KY

8d•$123,000 - $154,000•Onsite

About The Position

Slate is looking for an experienced Operations Manager to stand up and run our Louisville vinyl wrap production facility. You will own the operation end to end — from the moment raw material arrives at the dock to the moment a finished kit ships to the customer. This facility and business are new. There are no inherited processes, no established team, and no margin for error on quality. You must be comfortable building in motion: writing SOPs while running production, developing people while learning equipment, and making decisions without a complete picture. You'll be on your feet most of the day, working alongside the team, hands-on with industrial printers, laminators, and cutters. This role requires the ability to lift up to 30 pounds.

Requirements

5 or more years in operations management with direct accountability for throughput, quality, and cost in a distribution, fulfillment, or production environment.
Proven experience launching a new operation from the ground up, not inheriting an established one.
Experience building a positive culture in a warehouse environment
Distribution or fulfillment background required — you understand inbound, inventory, pick/pack, and outbound execution at a working level.
Comfort getting hands-on with production equipment and teaching others to use it.
Experience translating volume forecasts into staffing and equipment recommendations.
Track record building process where none existed and holding a team to it.
Experience in continuous improvement, making process improvements, tracking savings, and gaining buy in from all team members to implement change.
Strong developer of frontline supervisors, leads and associates
Data-driven approach to daily management — you build the tracking systems when they don't exist.
Ability to work a primary shift with flexibility as the operation requires.
Physical stamina for an active, on-your-feet role with occasional lifting to 30 pounds.
Work Authorization Requirement: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in graphics production, large-format printing, or custom manufacturing is a plus.
Automotive experience is not required.

Responsibilities

Build a safety-first culture from day one and hold it at every level of the team.
Own the full production flow: inbound receiving, inventory management, print, cut, kit, pack, and outbound shipping.
Lead the operational launch of the facility from equipment setup through first customer shipment.
Learn every piece of production equipment at an operational level and train the team on it.
Build SOPs, work instructions, and daily management systems from scratch.
Translate volume forecasts into staffing and equipment plans; own capacity planning and the decisions that come from it.
Drive the facility to its operational efficiency targets and build the systems that sustain them.
Manage team members, create a positive culture, and drive accountability for the site.
Develop team members for growth, cross-training, and shift leadership readiness.
Partner with the QC and Training Lead to establish quality standards and reduce defect and rework rates.
Plan and execute the transition to a second shift, including developing or hiring shift leadership.
Lead continuous improvement across the full production flow — identify waste, run projects to completion.