Operations Manager - Valves and Actuators

Woodward, Inc.•Fort Collins, CO

7d•$110,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Woodward's Industrial product division in Fort Collins, Colorado, is seeking a Production Operations Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and ensure safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement objectives are achieved. The role drives operational excellence through strategic planning, process optimization, team development, and continuous improvement while aligning plant performance with business objectives. The position is responsible for departmental budgets and cost control and requires use of information subject to ITAR and/or EAR regulations. Applicants must be U.S. Persons under those regulations or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Requirements

Ability to lead, motivate, and inspire multiple teams or departments, align resources, foster cross-functional collaboration, and drive accountability.
Ability to lead teams in analyzing situations, evaluating options, and developing effective solutions using logic, creativity, and sound judgment.
Proficiency in managing and motivating teams to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
Ability to monitor and manage financial performance, including budgeting and cost control.
Excellent communication skills with stakeholders, support teams, and the team.
Ability to prioritize critical tasks and allocate time and resources, balance urgent production needs with improvement initiatives, meet production and delivery targets, and manage competing priorities without compromising quality or safety.
Knowledge of lean practices including 5S, Visual Management, Standardized Work, Daily Management Systems, Flow/Pull, Value Stream Mapping, and Kaizen.
Knowledge of how different business areas interact and ability to integrate operations with overall business objectives.
Strong skills in Excel, Power BI, or Tableau for operational reporting, and ability to analyze production data for trends, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
Proficiency in ERP systems such as SAP and user-level understanding of MRP for inventory and production scheduling.
Emotional intelligence, including empathy, self-awareness, emotional regulation, social awareness, and relationship management.
Ability to collaborate with team members, departments, senior management, and external partners; foster open communication, coordinate across functions, solve problems, and support team development.
Must be a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR definitions or eligible to obtain all required authorizations.

Responsibilities

Manage and oversee the operational team, ensuring performance targets and quality standards are consistently met.
Develop and adapt departmental plans, budgets, and priorities to address resource allocation and operational challenges; manage budget and cost control.
Conduct member performance appraisals, handle hiring and training processes, and implement development plans.
Monitor and improve KPIs including OEE, throughput, scrap, on-time delivery, and labor efficiency.
Identify and resolve technical and operational issues to minimize disruption to departmental objectives and overall performance.
Collaborate with other departments to integrate business processes and achieve strategic operational goals.
Lead Production System implementation elements for member, machine, and material capacity planning, and lead DMS.

Benefits

Annual cash bonus opportunity for all members.
401(k) match (4.5%).
Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%).
Tuition reimbursement and training/professional development opportunities.
12 paid holidays.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance upon date of hire.
Vacation, sick time, vacation buy-up, short-term disability, and bereavement leave.
Paid parental leave.
Adoption assistance.
Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
Member Life & AD&D and Long Term Disability.
Member referral bonus.
Spouse/Child Optional Life, Optional AD&D, and Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending.
Voluntary benefits including home/auto insurance discounts, whole life insurance, critical illness insurance, legal assistance, and military leave.