Operations Specialist

UFP Industries•Washington, NC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Operations Specialist is responsible for assisting the plant with efficiency improvement, continuous improvement initiatives, safety programs, and special projects involving operational challenges and opportunities for improvement. Works directly with the Operations Manager to develop action plans and assist with operations challenges and opportunities. Additionally, this position serves as a key liaison between manufacturing, scheduling, engineering, project management, and plant leadership to support production efficiency, workflow optimization, and successful execution of operational initiatives.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production flow, scheduling, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Ability to analyze data and identify operational improvement opportunities.
Effective project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Preferred bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, or related discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.
Preferred experience and knowledge of UFP's organization, culture, and product lines.
Preferred experience reviewing drawings, bills of materials, production documentation, and operational workflows.

Responsibilities

Works with the Operations Manager to evaluate the current state within the region and establish direction and long-term operational goals.
Assists the Operations Manager in the development, prioritization, and implementation of solutions to improve operational performance.
Acts as a conduit for sharing successes, best practices, and key learnings among plants within the region.
Prepares various reports, analyses, and presentations as required.
Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.
Helps coordinate activities with manufacturing and plant operations departments.
Works with manufacturing teams on Capital Expenditure (CapEx) projects and operational improvement initiatives.
Supports continuous improvement efforts by identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve workflow, productivity, and plant performance.
Evaluates existing processes and assists with implementation of corrective actions and improvement plans.
Partners with plant leadership to monitor key performance indicators and operational metrics.
Develops an understanding of production capacity, scheduling constraints, and shop flow to support operational decision-making.
Assists in coordinating activities between production, scheduling, engineering, project management, and plant operations to ensure customer and business needs are met.
Helps monitor production schedules, critical due dates, and operational priorities.
Supports resolution of production issues and works cross-functionally to identify and implement solutions.
Reviews operational processes, production methods, bills of materials, and workflows to identify improvement opportunities.
Assists with implementation of engineering change requests (ECRs), process improvements, and best practices.
Participates in operational reviews, project meetings, and continuous improvement discussions.
Supports new product launches, first article reviews, and operational readiness activities as needed.
Maintains documentation, records, and project tracking tools to support operational initiatives.
Serves as a key point of contact between internal stakeholders including manufacturing, scheduling, engineering, project management, and regional leadership.
Communicates operational updates, project status, and improvement initiatives across functional teams.
Facilitates information sharing and promotes alignment between regional and plant-level objectives.