Position Summary:

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading plant manufacturing operations, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, employee engagement, labor relations, staffing, production efficiency, scheduling, inventory performance, and compliance with applicable quality and environmental systems. In addition to direct oversight of manufacturing operations, this position provides leadership oversight for Material Planning and Logistics (MP&L). While the MP&L Manager maintains day-to-day responsibility for the MP&L team, the Operations Manager must have sufficient MP&L knowledge to lead and support the function, and drive coordinated execution across manufacturing operations, scheduling, inventory control, shipping, receiving, vendor releasing, and customer delivery requirements.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead plant manufacturing operations to ensure production is ongoing and customer requirements are met safely, efficiently, and effectively.

• Responsible for the safety of all team members within the Operations organization and for supporting a safe work environment throughout the plant.

• Address safety near misses, incidents, and unsafe conditions through appropriate reporting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive safety observations.

• Direct and supervise operations leadership and manufacturing employees, including responsibility for manpower planning, staffing effectiveness, production execution, and operational performance.

• Develop, implement, and monitor production plans to meet customer requirements, delivery expectations, quality standards, and plant performance objectives.

• Provide leadership oversight to the MP&L function, including coordination with the MP&L Manager, planner / schedulers, shipping, receiving, inventory control, vendor releasing, and MRP buying activities.

• Ensure scheduling, material planning, inventory control, and operational execution are aligned to support customer demand, launch readiness, production efficiency, and on-time delivery.

• Coordinate with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Human Resources, Finance, MP&L, and other functional departments to ensure effective cross-functional plant operations.

• Responsible for Operations performance against key metrics, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, employee engagement, labor relations, productivity, scrap, inventory, and other applicable plant KPIs.

• Lead and support continuous improvement activities, including scrap reduction, focus teams, Kaizen events, standard lean events, production floor improvements, and corrective action follow-up.

• Ensure quality policies, procedures, Quality Basics, standard work, and documentation requirements are followed by Team Members.

• Serve as part of the leadership team when 8D reports, customer concerns, launch issues, or significant quality matters require cross-functional response.

• Perform regular Gemba walks and maintain follow-up on safety, quality, production, delivery, inventory, and other key process variables.

• Work with plant engineering and maintenance to ensure equipment and machinery are maintained, functioning as intended, and utilized effectively.

• Develop, implement, and monitor the Operations budget, including labor, production costs, resource requirements, and operational spending.

• Support Lean Manufacturing, launch / program management requirements, production line balancing, and operational readiness activities.

• Ensure training processes are in place and followed to support safe, effective, and compliant performance by Team Members.

• Develop operations talent and support succession planning for key operations and manufacturing leadership roles.

• Coordinate labor relations matters with Human Resources management and support consistent application of plant policies, procedures, and contractual obligations, where applicable.

• Responsible for overall plant compliance with applicable quality and environmental system requirements, including IATF and ISO 14001.

• May, on occasion, be required to perform duties other than those specified in this description.

 Education and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field required, or equivalent experience. 

• Minimum of five to eight years of supervision or management experience in a manufacturing environment. 

• Materials management, production control, logistics, supply chain, or MP&L experience preferred. 

• Technical knowledge of automotive manufacturing, manufacturing operations, scheduling, inventory management, material flow, and customer delivery requirements. 

• Experience with budget planning, forecasting, production cost management, and basic financial reporting preferred. 

• Experience supporting quality and environmental management systems, including IATF and ISO 14001. 

• Willingness and ability to travel, as necessary. 

Required Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to lead manufacturing operations while providing effective oversight and direction to MP&L activities. 

• Ability to work effectively with production employees, mid-level management, the Plant Manager, Human Resources, Finance, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, MP&L, and senior management. 

• Ability to quickly diagnose production, material flow, delivery, staffing, quality, or equipment issues and develop action plans to maintain efficient plant operations. 

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret production data, inventory information, cost data, quality information, and operational metrics. 

• Ability to define and lead cross-functional teams and drive accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and engagement results. 

• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to give clear verbal and written direction. 

• Ability to delegate responsibilities appropriately while maintaining control of the Operations organization and related MP&L execution. 

• Strong conflict resolution, decision-making, organizational, and planning skills. 

• Functional proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and applicable manufacturing, scheduling, inventory, or ERP systems. 

Work Environment/Work Conditions:

• Professional office environment and manufacturing floor environment. 

• Must wear proper personal protective equipment while on the manufacturing floor. 

• Travel to manufacturing facilities or customer locations may be required. 

• Equipment used in the work environment requires proper training on the potential for and avoidance of injury. 

Cooper Standard is proud of its diverse workforce and committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, age, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are dedicated to creating an environment at work that not only values diversity but also encourages inclusion and a sense of belonging. We firmly believe that a diverse workplace fosters an environment where our employees can flourish and provide superior service to our customers.

Because we recognize and value the range of ways in which people acquire experiences, whether via personal, professional, education, or volunteerism, we invite interested applicants to evaluate the key duties and requirements and apply for any opportunities that fit your experience and qualifications.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as certain state and/or local laws. If you believe you require such assistance to complete our online application or to participate in an interview, you (or someone on your behalf) may request assistance by emailing recruitment@cooperstandard.com with a description of the accommodation you seek. Application materials submitted to this email address will not be considered.