Operations Manager

Greystone of Lincoln • Toano, VA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager is an entry-level management role for early-career engineers, with end-to-end accountability for an assigned production line. Depending on the assignment, the line may involve electroplating, anodizing, secondary finishing, or ITAR-controlled machining. The role oversees work from receipt of customer order through final inspection, packaging, and shipment, and serves as the primary operational contact for customers assigned to the line. The position offers broad responsibility, direct ownership, and a stated path to senior operations and plant leadership.

The role directs daily production, manages schedules and line-level resources, monitors performance and cost metrics, and leads troubleshooting and continuous improvement. It also supports quality-system and regulatory compliance, maintains process documentation and traceability, leads audits and corrective actions, and ensures applicable safety, environmental, export-control, and customer requirements are met. The Operations Manager supervises, coaches, and develops operators and team leads, communicates proactively with customers, supports program launches and PPAP submissions, and reports operational performance to the Plant Manager.

Work is performed primarily on the manufacturing floor, with time in an associated office. The work environment may include noise up to 85 dB, ventilated heat up to 100°F, designated areas at 40–50°F, and exposures depending on line assignment to plating chemistry, solvents, cutting fluids, metallic particulate, and dry film lubricants. Required PPE is provided and must be worn. The role requires willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional off-shift support as production needs require.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply engineering principles to hands-on process challenges in a regulated, high-volume environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to engage effectively with operators, plant leadership, and external customers.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, quality-driven production environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) as required by ITAR, 22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional off-shift support as production needs require.

Nice To Haves

• Internship, co-op, or project experience in manufacturing, finishing, automotive, defense, or firearms.
• Familiarity with electrochemistry, surface finishing, or chemical processing; relevant coursework counts.
• Exposure to Mil-Spec finishing standards, including MIL-A-8625, AMS 2406, or related specifications.
• Knowledge of quality core tools, including FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and APQP.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, or Kaizen methodologies.
• ROTC or military service background.
• Basic understanding of ITAR and export-control compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day production on an assigned line to meet output, quality, and delivery goals.
• Develop and manage daily and weekly production schedules, coordinating with maintenance, chemistry, scheduling, and support functions.
• Monitor and report line performance metrics, including OEE, cycle time, scrap/rework rate, and on-time delivery, to the Plant Manager daily.
• Lead structured troubleshooting of process, chemistry, and equipment issues, and implement and verify corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement through Lean, 5S, and Kaizen initiatives to improve yield and reduce scrap and cost.
• Manage line-level labor assignments, overtime, tooling, and consumable usage within established budgets.
• Ensure line activities conform to applicable quality systems and certifications, including IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and applicable NADCAP requirements.
• Maintain process documentation, including control plans, FMEAs, work instructions, inspection records, and traceability records, in accordance with customer, Mil-Spec, and ITAR requirements as applicable.
• Lead layered process audits, SPC monitoring, and daily quality checks; own root cause and corrective action for line non-conformances, including customer-facing 8D responses.
• Ensure plating specifications and Cpk targets are met, using PPS capabilities for selective plating applications as applicable.
• Ensure compliance with export-control requirements for controlled parts and technical data on applicable machining or defense-finishing lines, and immediately escalate potential violations.
• Enforce safety procedures and environmental compliance, including proper handling and documentation of plating chemistry.
• Serve as the primary operational contact for assigned customers, providing updates on order status, schedule, and quality performance.
• Communicate scheduling changes, quality escapes, and capacity constraints, and develop and present corrective action plans as required by customers.
• Support new program launches and PPAP submissions, coordinating with process engineering, quality, and scheduling.
• Represent Greystone in customer audits, program reviews, and on-site visits, demonstrating knowledge of line processes and the quality system.
• Supervise, coach, and develop line operators and team leads; conduct performance evaluations and address performance issues.
• Lead daily start-of-shift meetings covering production goals, quality priorities, safety topics, and shift handoff information.
• Coordinate with HR on recruiting, onboarding, and job-specific training; verify operator competency before independent work on controlled processes.
• Build a line culture focused on safety, quality ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor and report line cost drivers, including labor efficiency, scrap and rework cost, chemistry consumption, tooling, and overtime.
• Manage consumable and overtime spending within department budgets and analyze significant cost variances.
• Prepare and deliver operational performance reports for the Plant Manager and, as needed, customers.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement plan.
• Structured onboarding and mentorship pairing new engineers with experienced plant and process leadership.
• Technically rich work environment with exposure to proprietary process technology, automated inspection systems, and a broad portfolio of electroplating and anodizing processes.
• Real ownership and accountability from day one.
• Clear career path from Product Line Manager to Senior PLM / Operations Supervisor, Operations Manager, and Plant Manager.

What This Job Offers

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