Operations Manager

Minerals Technologies•Neenah, WI

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Overview Minerals Technologies Inc. is a global, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a wide range of minerals and mineral-based products and services. Our products are an essential part of everyday life for millions of people around the world. They are used in consumer goods in paper and packaging, food and pharmaceuticals, household and personal care, pet care, automotives, and many more, as well as in industrial settings like steelmaking, metalcasting, construction, infrastructure, and wastewater remediation. We are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MTX, headquartered in New York City, and have over 150 locations worldwide, with ~4,000 employees in 34 countries and 12 R&D centers. We put people at the center of everything we do -- working safely, communicating openly, and managing our resources and businesses responsibly. What We Offer: Competitive pay, commensurate with experience Health/Dental/Vision plans 401k company match Life Insurance Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability Educational Assistance Employee Assistance Plan Position: Operations Manager Location: USA | Neenah, Wisconsin Job Summary: The primary responsibilities are to oversee the day-to-day operations involving Safety, Production, Quality, budgets, Operational Excellence and scheduling of maintenance projects. Will also maintain the extended planning for capital projects, maintain and keep up with weekly reporting, and work with EHS and Quality on issues that come up. Responsibilities Production Operations Management: Responsible for achieving sustainable results and improvement goals in safety, customer service, quality, operational excellence, cost & productivity, inventory management and organizational capability. Participate in the establishment of annual operating plans and ensure priorities and accountabilities are clear, resources are available, and obstacles are removed in order to ensure success. Identify and implement customer-driven activities that create improved customer satisfaction, flexibility, responsiveness, and innovations. Drive positive cultural change as a change agent within the site to engage employees towards a high performance self-directed culture. Ensure tracking, daily management and use of key performance indicators to promote improved operational and business results (Plan-Do-Check-Act). Ensures reliability and efficiency of the plant and equipment: recommends process/equipment modification for upgrades that improve safety, quality, and cost and productivity performance. Leverages OE knowledge and tools to drive continuous improvement. Lead significant projects and improvement initiatives in budgeting/forecasting, cost reductions & productivity. Oversee the practice of all health, safety & environmental procedures, ensuring that safety is a fundamental value in all that is done. Understands and ensures site OSHA compliance Acts as a team role model and change-agent. Employee Development & Management Continuously strive to create a customer focused, team based organization that encourage and engage employees to drive continuous improvement in our processes Ensure annual goals are communicated and achieved and lead through daily management/Gemba activities Ensure ePerformance Management System is up to date and regular feedback is provided to all employees. Monitor and evaluate team member performance and capabilities, and adjust training where needed. Be a progressive thinker and role model: Enable productivity enhancing tools such as Lean manufacturing, cycle time reduction through standard work and Kaizens, leveraging control system technology, and utilizing SharePoint to support knowledge management and to disseminate best practices for rapid improvement (multiplier effect) Provides leadership for root cause determination and problem resolution to facilitate faster improvements Continuous Improvement/ Lean Acts as resource and champion for department continuous improvement activities (Suggestion program, 5S, Kaizen, TPM, problem solving, etc.) Qualifications Position Demands: The requirements listed in the sections that follow are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions (primary duties) of the job. Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (preferred) 3-5 years Operations/Manufacturing experience with strong leadership experience. Maintenance and/or Reliability background preferred. Previous experience leading positive cultural change within a manufacturing environment required. Process oriented, data driven mindset for decision making. Previous experience successfully building and fostering self-directed teams or other similar high performing work systems within a manufacturing environment. Ability to build trust and motivate employees to embrace change and improve performance. Working knowledge of operational excellence, Lean manufacturing and variation reduction improvement strategies and the ability to integrate those into the operation. Demonstrated understanding of financial systems and the key drivers within the manufacturing environment. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills - communication at all levels, ability to openly convey information to team members in a timely, concise manner. Proven delivery of goal attainment. Strong leadership skills: ability to lead, contribute, and influence others in a team-based organization, including remote management Understanding of applicable computer systems, such as Microsoft Office, and function specific software. Excellent project management skills Lean Manufacturing/Operational Excellence familiarity/experience preferred The individual should be a dynamic leader who will possess the essential characteristics of creativity, a “can-do” attitude, integrity, competitiveness, accountability and teamwork. This individual should have interest in succession for the Plant Manager role at this location. While performing the duties of this job, an employee is typically required to read, write, listen, speak and understand English, follow all instructions and other oral/written information, visually inspect equipment/work area, complete paperwork and other documentation accurately, identify, analyze, troubleshoot and solve issues using judgment and mechanical knowledge/abilities, react quickly as needed, be organized and detail oriented, be able to identify/judge the urgency of a situation, use judgment in decision making, communicate effectively with others, be aware of oneself in relation to surrounding equipment, work independently and as a team with others. Ability to instruct/transfer job information/knowledge to others is required. There is exposure to plant production areas, which may include exposure to outside weather conditions as well as loud noise from equipment and dust from production processes. Exposure to plant areas requires the use of appropriate safety equipment. Personal protective equipment is available for employee use in these circumstances. The employee is expected to be self-directed, take initiative and be persistent when appropriate to accomplish necessary duties and keep busy without prompting. Additionally, the employee is expected to be adaptable/flexible to changing work assignments, have a high level of integrity, dependability and self-control to maintain composure, perform multiple tasks at once, learn and memorize procedures, manage time effectively and efficiently, meet established deadlines, display a cooperative attitude, motivate and lead others, read, understand and follow all company, job specific and safety policies/procedures, and attend/use all required training.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (preferred)
3-5 years Operations/Manufacturing experience with strong leadership experience.
Previous experience leading positive cultural change within a manufacturing environment required.
Process oriented, data driven mindset for decision making.
Previous experience successfully building and fostering self-directed teams or other similar high performing work systems within a manufacturing environment.
Ability to build trust and motivate employees to embrace change and improve performance.
Working knowledge of operational excellence, Lean manufacturing and variation reduction improvement strategies and the ability to integrate those into the operation.
Demonstrated understanding of financial systems and the key drivers within the manufacturing environment.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills - communication at all levels, ability to openly convey information to team members in a timely, concise manner.
Proven delivery of goal attainment.
Strong leadership skills: ability to lead, contribute, and influence others in a team-based organization, including remote management
Understanding of applicable computer systems, such as Microsoft Office, and function specific software.
Excellent project management skills
The individual should be a dynamic leader who will possess the essential characteristics of creativity, a “can-do” attitude, integrity, competitiveness, accountability and teamwork.
Ability to instruct/transfer job information/knowledge to others is required.
The employee is expected to be self-directed, take initiative and be persistent when appropriate to accomplish necessary duties and keep busy without prompting.
Additionally, the employee is expected to be adaptable/flexible to changing work assignments, have a high level of integrity, dependability and self-control to maintain composure, perform multiple tasks at once, learn and memorize procedures, manage time effectively and efficiently, meet established deadlines, display a cooperative attitude, motivate and lead others, read, understand and follow all company, job specific and safety policies/procedures, and attend/use all required training.

Nice To Haves

Maintenance and/or Reliability background preferred.
Lean Manufacturing/Operational Excellence familiarity/experience preferred
This individual should have interest in succession for the Plant Manager role at this location.

Responsibilities

Responsible for achieving sustainable results and improvement goals in safety, customer service, quality, operational excellence, cost & productivity, inventory management and organizational capability.
Participate in the establishment of annual operating plans and ensure priorities and accountabilities are clear, resources are available, and obstacles are removed in order to ensure success.
Identify and implement customer-driven activities that create improved customer satisfaction, flexibility, responsiveness, and innovations.
Drive positive cultural change as a change agent within the site to engage employees towards a high performance self-directed culture.
Ensure tracking, daily management and use of key performance indicators to promote improved operational and business results (Plan-Do-Check-Act).
Ensures reliability and efficiency of the plant and equipment: recommends process/equipment modification for upgrades that improve safety, quality, and cost and productivity performance.
Leverages OE knowledge and tools to drive continuous improvement.
Lead significant projects and improvement initiatives in budgeting/forecasting, cost reductions & productivity.
Oversee the practice of all health, safety & environmental procedures, ensuring that safety is a fundamental value in all that is done.
Understands and ensures site OSHA compliance
Acts as a team role model and change-agent.
Continuously strive to create a customer focused, team based organization that encourage and engage employees to drive continuous improvement in our processes
Ensure annual goals are communicated and achieved and lead through daily management/Gemba activities
Ensure ePerformance Management System is up to date and regular feedback is provided to all employees.
Monitor and evaluate team member performance and capabilities, and adjust training where needed.
Be a progressive thinker and role model: Enable productivity enhancing tools such as Lean manufacturing, cycle time reduction through standard work and Kaizens, leveraging control system technology, and utilizing SharePoint to support knowledge management and to disseminate best practices for rapid improvement (multiplier effect)
Provides leadership for root cause determination and problem resolution to facilitate faster improvements
Acts as resource and champion for department continuous improvement activities (Suggestion program, 5S, Kaizen, TPM, problem solving, etc.)