Operations Manager

Viant•Wheeling, IL

About The Position

The Operations Manager leads all manufacturing operations at Viant’s Wheeling facility, which specializes in precision machining of metal components for medical devices. The role is responsible for meeting safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while maintaining compliance with FDA, ISO 13485, and company standards. The manager drives strategic initiatives and continuous improvement, uses operational data to support business goals, and provides servant leadership to develop high-performing teams.

Requirements

5+ years in manufacturing leadership roles within a regulated environment.
Proven experience as an Operations Manager or in a similar role.
Demonstrated expertise in team leadership and training.
Experience in capacity planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to optimize production efficiency.
Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
Familiarity with FDA and ISO 13485 requirements.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
Ability to manage automation processes or work with advanced machining technologies.
Excellent organizational, time management, and verbal and written communication skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including data-driven decision-making.
Ability to ask appropriate questions, frame logical conclusions, and arrive at effective solutions.
Advanced proficiency in MS Office; Excel is required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Medical device or pharmaceutical experience strongly preferred.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred.
ERP experience; Oracle preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily production operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
Ensure schedule attainment and optimize labor and equipment utilization for maximum throughput.
Maintain accurate measurement of machine efficiency and production performance.
Ensure adherence to FDA, ISO 13485, and company quality standards.
Partner with Quality and Engineering to implement process controls, reduce non-conformances, and improve product quality.
Support audits and maintain documentation required for regulatory compliance.
Collect, analyze, and act on operational data to improve KPIs and support business goals.
Implement Lean and OpEx tools to reduce downtime, improve machine utilization, and optimize labor.
Drive cost reduction initiatives and eliminate process redundancies.
Champion a strong safety culture; lead JHA processes and corrective actions.
Identify and mitigate operational risks to ensure a safe work environment.
Collaborate with the production planning group to align production schedules and material requirements.
Support new product introductions from concept to full-scale production, ensuring smooth transitions.
Mentor and develop production supervisors and leads to build leadership capability.
Facilitate ongoing training programs to enhance team skills and engagement.
Uphold company policies and standards.
Participate in strategic projects and initiatives that support Viant’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
Perform other duties as assigned.