Operations Manager- INDY

READING BAKERY SYSTEMS • Indianapolis, IN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Reading Bakery Systems is looking for a Manufacturing Manager to lead parts production and new baking equipment builds at our Indianapolis facility. You’ll join a team of fewer than 40 people and report directly to the General Manager. Working through department coordinators, you’ll guide machining, welding, fabrication, and assembly while helping us develop our growing second shift. This is a hands-on leadership role with a regular presence on the manufacturing floor. It’s a great fit for someone who enjoys solving technical problems, organizing work, coaching people, and helping a team deliver quality equipment on time.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of industrial manufacturing experience, including 3 years leading production teams, supervisors, coordinators, or department leads.
• Experience in parts manufacturing and machinery or equipment assembly, preferably in a high-mix, low-volume, custom equipment, or job shop environment.
• Practical knowledge of machining, welding, metal fabrication, fit-up, and mechanical assembly.
• Ability to read engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, bills of material, and manufacturing specifications.
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, manufacturing costs, and ERP or MRP systems.
• A record of improving quality, productivity, cost, or delivery through practical problem-solving.
• An approachable leadership style, clear communication, strong follow-through, and the ability to coach people while maintaining accountability.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related technical or operations field, or an equivalent combination of technical education, apprenticeship or trade training, and relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

• Baking equipment, food-processing machinery, or other industrial capital equipment.
• Microsoft Dynamics ERP.
• Stainless steel fabrication, CNC machining, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, tooling, or fixture development.
• Starting or expanding a second shift.
• Lean manufacturing, standard work, manufacturing budgets, or broader site leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production. Set clear priorities, support department coordinators, and keep work moving safely and efficiently across manufacturing functions.
• Keep schedules realistic and on track. Balance parts orders and equipment builds with available people, materials, equipment, and capacity. Address bottlenecks early and coordinate recovery plans.
• Bring practical manufacturing expertise. Help teams resolve challenges in machining, welding, fabrication, fit-up, and mechanical assembly. Partner with Engineering to improve methods, tooling, fixtures, and work instructions.
• Build quality into the process. Ensure work meets drawings and specifications, establish effective inspection checkpoints, and resolve recurring defects, scrap, and rework.
• Develop people. Coach coordinators, provide clear expectations and constructive feedback, identify training needs, and support hiring and cross-training.
• Help grow second shift. Support staffing, training, work assignments, and reliable shift handoffs, with occasional availability outside normal day-shift hours.
• Improve safety, productivity, and cost. Reinforce safe work practices, coordinate equipment maintenance needs, and improve workflow, labor utilization, overtime, and job performance.
• Work across the business. Coordinate with Engineering, planning, purchasing, Sales, Customer Care, and shipping. Keep the General Manager informed of progress, risks, and decisions needed, and provide operational leadership during designated absences.

What This Job Offers

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