Operations Manager

Fiber Materials•Biddeford, ME

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Fiber Materials Inc. (FMI) is a leading solutions provider of high temperature materials and composites for over 50 years, serving the Department of Defense and NASA. Their manufacturing facility in Maine focuses on multidirectional reinforced Carbon/Carbon (C/C) and Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) used in high-temperature components for space initiatives like the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and NASA's Mars 2020 mission heat shield, missile programs, jet engines, and lightweight armor. FMI is seeking a thoughtful, strategic, and experienced Operations Manager to lead their manufacturing organization towards its next level of excellence. This role involves championing a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement, ensuring operations are both cost-effective and highly responsive to customer needs. The Operations Manager will also be instrumental in preparing the team for the future by guiding the integration of new product manufacturing, and ensuring local production goals align with the company's broader strategic vision.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Leadership, Engineering, or related field/discipline
Minimum 10 years of relevant business experience and job positions in a manufacturing environment
Thorough understanding of practices, theories, and principles involved in operations (i.e., manufacturing technology, quality systems, process control, equipment design and engineering, supply chain management systems, budget setting, lean manufacturing tools)
Moderate to broad understanding of practices, theories, and principles involved in business, and finance
Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Strong business and financial acumen
Strong written and oral communication skills in the English language
Strong interpersonal skills (managerial and diplomacy)

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration
Lean / Six Sigma / Continuous Improvement proficiency
Active Personnel Security Clearance

Responsibilities

Direct the operations function, focusing on the day-to-day and medium-term performance of the Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Equipment Maintenance groups
Serve as a member of the Site Leadership Team that defines and executes the overall strategy for all Maine locations
Coordinate and prioritize facility resources to meet the requirements of the operations, application engineering, technology development, and testing organizations
Give direct supervision to the operations organization through the site manager(s) position
Work with managers, peers, and indirect reports in resolving day-to-day issues and conducting the normal course of business
Maintains and utilizes a factory capacity model to make decisions/recommendations on capital expenditures, staffing requirements, and material needs
Accountable for securing current supplies of raw materials and for identifying and developing sources to reduce risks
Allocation of resources (personnel, time, assets), prioritization of work and projects and conflict management
Prepare and makes presentations to customers, management, salaried, and hourly groups
Routinely meets with key vendors/suppliers, consultants, and business partners to represent business interests
Has the responsibility for and actively encourages, suggests, and makes decisions for changes to systems and to process technologies to enhance manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies