Operations Manager

First Quality • Anderson, SC

13d • Onsite

About The Position

First Quality is a family-owned company with over 35 years of history, operating 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada. We produce personal care and household products, as well as raw materials and components. Our values of humility, unity, and integrity guide us in leveraging advanced technology and innovation. We foster a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning and professional development. We are seeking an Operations Manager for our First Quality Print & Packaging facility in Anderson, SC. This role leads day-to-day manufacturing operations (extrusion, flexographic printing, lamination, slitting, and warehouse) and drives continuous improvement, digital transformation, and operational standardization. Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Operations Manager is accountable for safety, quality, on-time delivery, and cost performance, while building capabilities for future growth. This is a hands-on leadership role in a 24/7 SQF-certified flexible packaging operation, requiring a leader who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and partners with the enterprise Transformation Office.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• At least 3 years directly leading flexible packaging, plastics extrusion, flexographic printing, or similar process operations.
• Proven ability to lead multi-department plant operations and drive measurable results.
• Strong Lean / Six Sigma practitioner (Green Belt or higher preferred) with a track record of sustained continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated change leadership: has led through significant processes, technology, or cultural transitions.
• Data-fluent: comfortable with dashboards, analytics, and data-driven decision making; able to challenge data quality and reporting integrity.
• Working knowledge of ERP (SAP preferred), MES platforms, and production scheduling tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills across all levels of the organization.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented, 24/7 environment.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience with blown film extrusion, flexographic printing (expanded color gamut), solventless lamination, and automated slitting.
• SQF or equivalent food-safety standards experience in a packaging environment.
• Demonstrated experience deploying or scaling automation — robotics, vision systems, MES, PLC integration.
• Exposure to Industry 4.0 / smart-factory concepts with real-world deployment experience.
• Experience leading plant-level transformation programs or multi-plant standardization efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop department leaders, shift supervisors, and production teams.
• Model FQ core values; build a high-performing, safety-first culture.
• Own performance management, succession planning, and talent development.
• Foster cross-functional partnership with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Scheduling, HR, and Procurement.
• Drive continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S.
• Implement and sustain Daily Management System disciplines.
• Partner with the FQ Transformation Office on process redesign and standardization.
• Execute cost-reduction, yield-improvement, and capacity-expansion projects.
• Champion the plant’s technology roadmap, including MES, vision systems, PLC integration, and robotics.
• Identify, pilot, and scale automation opportunities.
• Drive adoption of enterprise tools (SAP, MES, Hexagon, POKA, Intelex, ETQ, WinSPC) and evaluate new tools.
• Stay current on flexible packaging industry technology and translate awareness into pilots.
• Partner with Engineering on capital project scoping, justification, and execution.
• Own the plant’s KPI framework and visible performance management.
• Demand and model data fluency: read dashboards, challenge data quality, use analytics to drive root cause.
• Partner with enterprise Data & Analytics teams to build reporting and analytics use cases.
• Manage departmental budgets, labor costs, and operational expenses.
• Own end-to-end operations across extrusion, flexographic printing, lamination, slitting, and warehouse.
• Plan, schedule, and coordinate production to meet customer demand, minimize downtime, and control waste.
• Champion a zero-incident safety culture and ensure compliance with safety policies.
• Drive quality standards, root-cause analysis, and response to defects and complaints.
• Own warehouse operations, including inventory control, cycle counts, FIFO, and accurate shipments.
• Lead a true 24/7 operation, being available and responsive off-hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
• Paid time off (three-week minimum)
• Medical, dental and vision starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
• Bundle of joy benefit (years’ worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager