Operations Manager - Valves and Actuators

Woodward L'Orange•Fort Collins, CO

5d•Onsite

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 operational team performance, departmental planning and budgets, cost control, performance management, and improving production KPIs. The estimated annual base pay is $110,000–$150,000, with the final salary determined by factors including education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and market data. All members are eligible for an annual cash bonus opportunity. This role requires use of information subject to ITAR and/or EAR. Applicants must be U.S. Persons under those regulations or eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Requirements

Experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities appropriate to the role; no specific years or degree requirement are stated.
Ability to lead, motivate, and inspire multiple teams or departments, align resources, foster cross-functional collaboration, and drive accountability.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including analyzing situations, evaluating options, and developing effective solutions.
Operational management skills, including motivating teams and achieving safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
Ability to monitor and manage financial performance, including budgeting and cost control.
Strong communication skills with stakeholders, support teams, and the employee’s own team.
Time-management and prioritization skills to allocate time and resources, balance production needs with improvement initiatives, and manage competing priorities.
Lean knowledge or proficiency in 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 production data analysis.
Proficiency with ERP systems such as SAP.
User-level understanding of MRP for inventory and production scheduling.
Emotional intelligence, including empathy, self-awareness, emotional regulation, social awareness, and relationship management.
Collaboration skills to work with team members, departments, senior management, and external partners; executive presence.
Must be a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR or eligible to obtain all required authorizations.

Responsibilities

Manage and oversee the operational team to meet performance targets and quality standards.
Develop and adapt departmental plans, budgets, and priorities to address resource allocation and operational challenges.
Manage departmental budgets and cost control.
Conduct member performance appraisals, handle hiring and training, 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 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.
Lead Daily Management Systems (DMS).
Balance urgent production needs with medium-term improvement initiatives while meeting production and delivery targets without compromising quality or safety.