Operations Manager

Job Title: Operations Leader – CNC Manufacturing

Job Description

This role leads end-to-end operations in an CNC manufacturing environment, driving strategic initiatives that improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate overall plant performance. The position oversees daily manufacturing activities, ensures adherence to quality and regulatory standards, and builds a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across operations, warehouse, and maintenance teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute operational strategies that align with organizational goals and long-term objectives.
• Lead initiatives to enhance production efficiency, optimize resource utilization, reduce operating costs, and improve overall plant performance.
• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations, ensuring production schedules are met and processes run smoothly and efficiently.
• Ensure strict adherence to quality standards, regulatory requirements, and industry certifications throughout all production activities.
• Provide strong leadership to operations, warehouse, and maintenance teams, setting clear expectations and leading by example.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across all operational functions.
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members to strengthen their technical skills, leadership capabilities, and overall performance.
• Implement and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor operational performance and plant effectiveness.
• Analyze operational data and trends to identify performance gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement corrective actions and improvement plans based on data-driven insights to achieve operational excellence.
• Assist in managing maintenance activities in coordination with the Maintenance Department to minimize unscheduled downtime.
• Maximize utilization of planned downtime through effective maintenance planning and scheduling.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, embedding best practices into daily operations.
• Promote a strong culture of workplace safety, encouraging safe work habits and proactive hazard identification.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Finance, HR, Sales, and other departments to ensure alignment and effective communication.
• Support cross-functional initiatives that improve production processes, scheduling, and supply chain performance.
• Contribute to budgeting and financial planning activities, including monitoring operational costs and supporting P&L management.
• Drive and sustain lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing environment.
• Lead and manage change effectively, ensuring new processes, tools, and improvements are adopted and sustained by the teams.

Essential Skills

• 5–10 years of proven experience in operations management within manufacturing or a similar high-precision industry.
• Strong understanding of CNC machining, production processes, scheduling, and supply chain dynamics.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing a diverse operations, warehouse, and maintenance team.
• Strategic thinking capability with a track record of driving operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational data and make sound data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated bias toward action and the ability to effectively manage change in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards, including aerospace manufacturing standards.
• Experience in budgeting and/or profit and loss (P&L) management.
• Intermediate proficiency with Windows and MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in operations management and production management in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in maintenance improvement and operational management, with exposure to maintenance planning and coordination.
• Experience in lean manufacturing, including implementing process improvements and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Project management and program management skills to lead operational improvement projects from concept to completion.
• Supervisory experience in a manufacturing setting, including performance management and team development.
• Manufacturing engineering exposure and understanding of production workflows and tooling requirements.
• Proven ability to work within a continuous improvement culture, using metrics and KPIs to drive performance.
• Strong general management skills, including prioritization, delegation, and stakeholder communication.

Why Work Here?

Join a highly technical manufacturing environment where operational excellence, continuous improvement, and safety are core values. You will work with cross-functional teams in Engineering, Quality, Finance, HR, and Sales, gaining broad exposure and the opportunity to influence key business outcomes. The culture emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and professional growth, offering the chance to mentor and develop teams while shaping strategic initiatives that directly impact performance. This environment supports data-driven decision making, encourages innovation, and values leaders who take ownership and drive meaningful change.

Work Environment

The role is primarily based within the production plant and office areas, providing direct, hands-on engagement with manufacturing operations and equipment. Work is performed in alignment with quality standards, including vision requirements consistent with AS 9100 standards. The position involves physical activity, including the ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 pounds and to stand for at least 95% of the scheduled shift. At times, the role requires stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, twisting, bending, and grasping to move and set tools, equipment, and related materials. The environment is fast-paced, safety-focused, and centered around precision manufacturing and continuous operational improvement.

This is a Permanent position based out of Grand Rapids, MI.

The pay range for this position is $130000.00 - $160000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Full Company Benefits - Medical - Dental - Vision - 401k

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Rapids,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

About Aerotek

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meet their goals, skills, and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role in solving companies’ construction, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are-everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.