Find & Apply For Operations Manager / Supervisor Jobs in Columbus, Indiana

$155,000-$160,000 + 10%

Bonus Location:

Columbus, Indiana About the Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to help lead day-to-day operations at a 24/7 aseptic bottling facility. This is a hands-on, highly visible leadership role for someone who believes effective operations management starts on the plant floor. You will work closely with Production, Maintenance, Planning, Quality, and other plant leaders to ensure the operation runs safely, efficiently, and consistently meets production and quality goals. A strong presence on the floor is essential to success in this position. This is not a role where you will manage primarily from behind a desk. You will be expected to be out in the operation, engaging with employees and leaders, identifying issues firsthand, responding to challenges, and driving solutions.

Team & Scope Direct Reports:

4

Production Supervisors Indirect Team:

Approximately 100 Production employees

Facility:

24/7 aseptic bottling operation Lead and support a large production team across a continuous manufacturing environment Key Responsibilities Lead day-to-day plant operations with a focus on safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, and cost control Maintain a strong and visible presence on the plant floor Work directly with Production Supervisors and frontline employees to identify and resolve operational issues Follow up on production and maintenance issues and ensure corrective actions are completed Participate in daily production meetings and communicate production performance, downtime, and operational priorities Partner with Production and Maintenance teams to maximize equipment utilization and operational efficiency Monitor plant KPIs and performance metrics and identify opportunities for improvement Lead improvement initiatives focused on productivity, waste reduction, quality, safety, and efficiency Work closely with Production Planning to ensure the operation has the necessary materials, supplies, schedules, and raw materials Conduct cost studies and identify opportunities to improve operational performance and control costs Coordinate planned downtime, preventative maintenance, sanitation, and teardown activities with department leaders Conduct weekly staff meetings and maintain accountability for follow-up items Coach, mentor, and develop the four Production Supervisors Provide performance feedback and help develop employees for future leadership opportunities Build a culture where employees take ownership and accountability for their responsibilities Support plant readiness for USDA, SQF, customer, internal, and external inspections Ensure products meet established quality, food safety, regulatory, GMP, and SQF requirements Partner with department leaders to address and appropriately disposition non-conforming product Promote a strong culture of safety, accountability, urgency, and continuous improvement Conduct employee training and lead meetings as needed Maintain strong working relationships across the operation and with external partners Respond effectively to operational issues, equipment breakdowns, and other plant challenges Provide leadership support to the operation outside of normal working hours as needed What We're Looking For The ideal candidate will bring: Experience leading operations in a manufacturing environment, ideally within food, beverage, dairy, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment Experience leading supervisors and large frontline production teams A proven hands-on leadership style A willingness and ability to spend significant time on the plant floor Experience working in a 24/7 manufacturing operation Strong knowledge of production operations, maintenance coordination, and manufacturing efficiency Experience managing KPIs, productivity, downtime, utilization, and continuous improvement Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills Experience leading, coaching, and developing production teams and supervisors Strong communication and meeting leadership skills A proactive mindset and strong sense of urgency The ability to balance people leadership with operational execution A commitment to safety, quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance Flexibility to support a continuous operation when issues arise outside of normal working hours The Right Fit This opportunity is ideal for an Operations Manager who likes being in the action. You should be comfortable walking the floor, talking with employees, asking questions, identifying inefficiencies, addressing problems in real time, and holding teams accountable for results. Your presence on the floor will matter. The strongest candidate will be someone who leads from the operation itself - staying close to the people, equipment, processes, and challenges that drive plant performance. If you're a hands-on operations leader who thrives in a fast-paced, 24/7 aseptic manufacturing environment, enjoys developing leaders, and knows how to drive performance through a large production team, we'd love to hear from you