Operations Manager - Assembly

JCB•Pooler, GA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager - Assembly leads all assembly manufacturing operations to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of equipment. The role provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for production teams, supervisors, and department managers, and drives operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement. The Operations Manager develops and executes manufacturing strategies supporting business objectives, capacity growth, workforce development, new product introductions, and productivity improvements. The position also promotes accountability, employee engagement, process discipline, and customer satisfaction. The role is onsite at 2000 Bamford Blvd., Pooler, Georgia 31322. The stated schedule is second shift, Monday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., with overtime on Fridays. The posting also says the employee must be able to work a flexible schedule, including Friday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. JCB offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, and paid holidays. Applications are anticipated to be accepted through November 19, 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
At least 5 years of experience leading supervisors, managers, and large production teams.
Demonstrated experience managing production schedules, labor planning, and manufacturing performance metrics.
Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and problem-solving methodologies.
Experience managing budgets, capital projects, and operational expenditures.
Advanced leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Must pass applicable drug screens, background checks, and pre-employment tests conducted in accordance with applicable law.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; ability to work in a high-stress environment, work independently, and pay attention to detail.
Collaborative approach to resolving issues across enterprise groups; ability to understand and troubleshoot system and non-system processes and recommend solutions.
Self-motivated team player who can work in a dynamic environment.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Microsoft Project.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including Friday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Ability to lift or move up to 10 pounds regularly, up to 35 pounds frequently, and up to 50 pounds occasionally.
Ability to perform continuous, repetitive physical activities, including fine movements and large motions; grasp or pinch small items; reach out and up; and turn the wrist.
Ability to keep pace with production speed and push or pull with reasonable force.
Ability to bend, stoop, climb, kneel, and stand for extended periods.
Ability to work in multiple climates, including hot and cold temperatures and dusty environments.
Must not now or in the future require sponsorship for U.S. employment visa status.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or MBA.
Experience in heavy equipment, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, automotive, or industrial manufacturing.
At least 10 years of manufacturing experience with broad exposure to assembly, fabrication, quality, supply chain, and maintenance functions.
Lean Manufacturing Certification, Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent Continuous Improvement certification.
Experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations.
Demonstrated success driving cultural transformation, operational excellence, and large-scale manufacturing improvements.
Experience supporting New Product Introduction and facility expansion initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead assembly operations to achieve Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale objectives.
Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining compliance with quality standards, operational procedures, and customer requirements.
Develop and execute operational strategies that support company growth, production demands, and organizational objectives.
Monitor daily production performance and implement corrective actions to address efficiency, throughput, and capacity gaps.
Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering teams to support smooth operations and production continuity.
Coach and develop supervisors, department managers, and production teams; foster accountability, ownership, teamwork, and continuous learning.
Drive succession planning and leadership development across the manufacturing organization.
Lead workforce planning to ensure adequate staffing, conduct performance reviews, and establish measurable goals for direct reports.
Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with company policies, OSHA regulations, and environmental requirements.
Lead safety incident investigations, implement corrective actions, and improve workplace safety performance.
Promote defect prevention, right-first-time manufacturing, and customer satisfaction; ensure compliance with manufacturing processes, work instructions, and quality systems.
Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and optimize manufacturing flow.
Use Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis, Value Stream Mapping, and problem-solving methods to support continuous improvement.
Identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining quality and safety standards.
Lead cross-functional teams implementing process improvements and operational excellence initiatives.
Collaborate with Engineering and Program Management on New Product Introductions and assess manufacturing readiness for new products and production changes.
Plan and implement facility expansion, process optimization, tooling improvements, and manufacturing capacity growth.
Support capital investment initiatives through feasibility studies, business cases, implementation planning, and budget management.
Develop, manage, and monitor departmental budgets, labor costs, capital expenditures, and operational spending.
Analyze production performance metrics and drive improvements in profitability and efficiency; allocate resources to meet objectives while controlling costs.
Prepare and present operational performance reports to senior leadership.
Monitor and report manufacturing performance indicators, prioritize departmental activities, and adjust resources for changing business demands.
Support special projects and strategic initiatives, and perform other duties as assigned.