Senior Production Operations Leader
About The Position
Protocase Inc. is seeking one or two senior leaders to help build, lead, and scale its production operation in Wilmington, North Carolina. This role is for a fast-paced, high-mix manufacturing environment where exceptional quality and speed are paramount, even with changing priorities and volumes. The ideal candidate will possess an entrepreneurial mindset, taking ownership of results, developing capable leaders, and implementing practical systems to strengthen the operation as it grows. The company culture emphasizes leaders helping people succeed, combined with demanding operational standards, sound judgment, and a strong customer commitment. As a Senior Production Operations Leader, you will be responsible for the performance and development of the Wilmington production operation, spanning teams and shifts. Your work will involve developing Leads and Supervisors, strengthening day-to-day execution, improving workflows, and building the necessary leadership structure and operating systems to support growth. You will spend significant time on the production floor understanding the work, observing performance, and solving problems at their source, while also looking ahead to identify future operational needs and lead necessary changes. The ultimate goal is to build a high-performing production operation characterized by strong leaders, clear standards, effective training, disciplined execution, and consistent accountability.
Requirements
- Substantial experience leading manufacturing or production operations and developing other leaders.
- Experience building, scaling, or significantly improving teams, processes, facilities, or operating systems.
- Ability to take ownership of results and make decisions when the path forward is not obvious.
- Ability to move comfortably between detailed problems on the production floor and the broader operational picture.
- Ability to set high standards, follow through on commitments, and address issues directly and respectfully.
- Understanding of how to create accountability without losing sight of employee development.
- Understanding of the challenges of balancing speed, customization, quality, efficiency, and changing customer requirements.
- Adaptability and effectiveness in an environment that is still being built and refined.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Able to work on-site in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in high-mix, low-volume, custom, or engineer-to-order manufacturing.
Responsibilities
- Take ownership of production performance across teams and shifts.
- Establish and reinforce clear expectations for safety, quality, output, efficiency, and customer commitments.
- Use operational data and firsthand observation to identify gaps, set priorities, and make sound decisions.
- Ensure problems are addressed at their root rather than repeatedly managed as symptoms.
- Maintain a strong connection between daily production activity and the needs of our customers and business.
- Help select, develop, coach, and hold Leads and Supervisors accountable.
- Build leaders who can set expectations, develop employees, solve problems, and address performance concerns effectively.
- Establish a leadership structure capable of supporting growth without compromising standards.
- Create an environment where people take ownership, communicate openly, solve problems collaboratively, and help others succeed.
- Set a high bar for performance while treating people with fairness, respect, and consistency.
- Strengthen procedures, training, and auditing through our PTA approach: Procedure, Training, Audit.
- Improve workflows, handoffs, production planning, communication, and coordination across shifts and teams.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Quality, Scheduling, HR, and other functions to improve performance across the operation.
- Develop practical systems that reduce dependence on individual knowledge and make strong execution repeatable.
- Ensure successful improvements become part of the standard way we work.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, life insurance, and group insurance coverage for eligible full-time employees.
- Two weeks of paid vacation, increasing to three weeks after three years and four weeks after five years.
- Leadership training and additional professional and skills-development opportunities.
- The opportunity to help build a growing U.S. operation and take on broader leadership responsibility as the business develops.
- Company lunches, seasonal events, and other activities as our Wilmington team grows.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
