Operations Manager

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Department: Operations

Reports To: General Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Jacksonville, FL

Updated: 06/09/2026

Aqueous Vets (AV) is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer and supplier of treatment systems designed to remove PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from groundwater and drinking water, protecting our health and the environment. As a trusted industry leader, AV pairs its team of seasoned engineers and water industry professionals with an innovative, entrepreneurial approach to creating cutting-edge solutions for each end user. From concept to commission, AV's turnkey solutions encompass a full range of capabilities, including design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and exemplary, long-term customer service. A proud member of the Bain Double Impact family, AV is passionate about ensuring sustainable social and environmental impact in the communities it serves. To learn more, visit AqueousVets.com.

Description:

The Operations Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the operational systems that govern manufacturing, materials management, inventory control, and facility performance at the Jacksonville facility. This role provides leadership to production and materials teams while driving operational excellence, workforce development, process improvement, and organizational scalability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop production, materials, and operational leaders to build a high-performing organization capable of meeting current and future business needs.
• Establish clear performance expectations and drive accountability for safety, quality, productivity, inventory accuracy, and customer service.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, teamwork, and employee engagement.
• Support workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.

Operations & Materials Management

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for all manufacturing and material management activities, including production, receiving, inventory control, warehousing, material handling, shipping, and cycle counting.
• Ensure effective utilization of labor, equipment, facilities, and materials to achieve operational objectives and customer commitments.
• Partner with Planning, Supply Chain, Project Management, Quality, and Engineering functions to align operational execution with business priorities and delivery requirements.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational constraints impacting throughput, inventory availability, productivity, quality, or schedule attainment.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Own and continuously improve manufacturing and material management processes, systems, and workflows to increase safety, quality, efficiency, capacity, and scalability.
• Lead initiatives focused on waste reduction, process standardization, productivity improvement, inventory accuracy, and operational performance.
• Evaluate facility layouts, equipment, tooling, material flow, and operating practices to identify opportunities for improvement and long-term growth.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to operational, quality, inventory, and safety performance.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance leadership to ensure products consistently meet customer requirements and company quality standards.
• Lead investigations, corrective actions, and risk-reduction efforts associated with safety, quality, and operational incidents.
• Promote and model safe work practices throughout all operational functions.

Operational Systems & Performance Management

• Own operational metrics and management systems related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, and schedule attainment.
• Develop, implement, and maintain operational procedures, work instructions, standard work, policies, and performance management systems.
• Monitor operational performance, identify trends, and implement corrective actions to achieve business objectives.
• Support strategic planning, capacity planning, capital investment initiatives, and operational growth strategies.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 9 years of progressive leadership experience within manufacturing, operations, supply chain, materials management, or industrial environments.
• Demonstrated success leading operational improvement initiatives that delivered measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, inventory performance, productivity, or cost.
• Experience leading supervisors, team leads, or frontline leaders in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience implementing or operating within structured management systems such as Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System (TPS), Six Sigma, ISO 9001, or similar operational excellence frameworks.
• Experience within custom manufacturing, engineer-to-order, fabrication, industrial equipment, or project-based production environments strongly preferred.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and able to successfully pass a background check.

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, materials management, inventory control, production planning, and operational performance management.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, including standardized work, visual management, waste elimination, flow, pull systems, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with Six Sigma, PDCA, Kaizen, A3 problem solving, value stream mapping, or similar process improvement tools.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems and process-based management principles.
• Lean certification (TPS, Six Sigma, Lean Practitioner, etc.) preferred
• Ability to analyze operational data and utilize key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, drive accountability, and improve performance.
• General understanding of metal fabrication and manufacturing processes, including welding, fitting, machining, blasting, painting, assembly, and material flow.
• Familiarity with ASME pressure vessel fabrication, industrial equipment manufacturing, or heavy fabrication environments preferred.
• Experience utilizing ERP systems to manage production, inventory, materials, and operational performance; Microsoft Business Central experience preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.

Competencies:

Operational Leadership

• Ability to build alignment, establish accountability, and drive execution through frontline leaders and supervisors.
• Creates systems and processes that enable sustainable operational performance rather than relying on individual effort.

Continuous Improvement

• Demonstrates a bias toward process improvement, standardization, waste reduction, and long-term capability building.
• Challenges existing practices and drives measurable operational improvements.

Strategic & Systems Thinking

• Understands the interaction between production, materials management, inventory, quality, engineering, planning, and customer requirements.
• Identifies systemic issues and develops sustainable corrective actions.

People Development

• Develops leaders and teams through coaching, mentoring, training, and performance management.
• Builds organizational capability and succession depth.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Utilizes structured problem-solving methodologies to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
• Makes timely decisions using data, operational insight, and sound judgment.

Communication & Change Leadership

• Communicates clearly across all organizational levels.
• Effectively leads organizational change, process improvements, and operational transformation initiatives.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, dust, moving equipment, and varying temperatures.
• Frequent walking throughout the facility to support manufacturing operations.
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel, reach, and climb as necessary to support operational activities.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and computer systems.
• Visual acuity sufficient to review documents, manufacturing drawings, reports, and equipment labels.
• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods as required.

Aqueous Vets is an equal-opportunity employer. We commit to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, pregnancy or related medical conditions, age, national origin, or ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic predisposition, marital, civil union or partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws.