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Job Description
Operations Manager Trainee Job Type:
Full-Time Location:
Emmett, ID Schedule:
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (30-minute lunch)
Starting Pay:
$25.00/hour
Compensation Progression Starting Pay:
$25.00/hour Increase to $27.00/hour after 6 months based on successful completion of training milestones and demonstrated operational competency Increase to $29.00/hour after 12 months based on performance, operational leadership, inventory management, and BOM accuracy Position Overview We are seeking a hands-on Operations Manager Trainee to become a long-term leader within our manufacturing operation. This position is designed for someone who wants to build a career with our company, learn the business from the ground up, and eventually take ownership of daily manufacturing operations. This is not a desk-management position. During the first several months, the successful candidate will work directly alongside the production team to learn our products, manufacturing processes, inventory systems, and workflow. This includes assisting with assembly, leak testing, shipping preparation, forklift operation, material handling, and any other tasks necessary to support production. The Operations Manager Trainee will report directly to ownership and work closely with the Director of Commercial Operations, who manages office operations, customer communication, purchasing, and administrative functions. Ownership will be taking maternity leave within the first few months of this position being filled, making it critical that the successful candidate learns quickly, earns the trust of the team, and begins assuming increasing responsibility for daily operations. Initial Learning & Development Expectations During the first 30-60 days, the Operations Manager Trainee will focus on: Learning all manufacturing processes from start to finish Assisting in all production departments as needed Assembly of towers and manufactured products Leak testing and quality control procedures Building pallets and preparing shipments Obtaining forklift certification Learning inventory management procedures Understanding current production workflows Learning existing SOPs and work instructions Building trust and credibility with the production team Identifying opportunities for future operational improvements The expectation is to first learn the operation thoroughly before recommending or implementing significant changes.
Primary Areas of Ownership :
Production Operations Responsible for ensuring production activities are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
Duties include:
Executing daily production priorities Monitoring production progress throughout the day Coordinating labor and resources to meet deadlines Identifying and resolving production bottlenecks Maintaining accountability for workflow execution Supporting production employees wherever needed Ensuring customer orders are completed accurately and on time Maintaining organization and efficiency throughout the shop Production Planning & Scheduling After developing a strong understanding of production processes, responsibilities will expand to include: Planning production schedules Coordinating manpower utilization Prioritizing work orders Managing workflow sequencing Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency Supporting on-time delivery performance Inventory Management Responsible for maintaining inventory visibility and supporting inventory accuracy.
Duties include:
Monitoring inventory levels and material usage Assisting with cycle counts and inventory audits Identifying shortages before they impact production Maintaining organized inventory storage areas Supporting inventory control improvements Reducing waste and unnecessary material loss Weekly Purchase Order Review Process The Operations Manager Trainee will be responsible for gathering, organizing, and prioritizing operational material needs for review. Each week, responsibilities include: Collecting material requests from production staff Identifying consumables, stock items, maintenance items, and operational supplies needed to support production Gathering relevant purchasing information, including: Part numbers Vendor information Quantities needed Estimated lead times (when available) Prioritizing requests based on operational need Conducting a weekly review of material requirements Compiling a structured purchasing request list The completed list will be submitted to the Director of Commercial Operations for final review and purchase order creation. This position does not directly create or issue purchase orders to vendors. Quality & Process Improvement Responsible for helping maintain product quality while supporting continuous improvement.
Duties include:
Participating in quality inspections and testing procedures Identifying recurring production issues Investigating root causes of quality concerns Reviewing existing SOPs Recommending process improvements for ownership approval Supporting implementation of approved improvements BOM & Manufacturing Accuracy After approximately six months, training will expand into: QuickBooks builds and assemblies Bill of Materials (BOM) management Reading and interpreting CAD drawings Verifying BOM accuracy during the quoting process Ensuring accurate information is released to production Identifying and correcting BOM discrepancies Reducing production errors caused by inaccurate documentation Shipping, Warehouse & Facility Oversight Responsible for supporting safe and efficient movement of materials and finished products.
Duties include:
Overseeing warehouse organization Supporting shipping and receiving operations Building and preparing pallets for shipment Coordinating material movement throughout the facility Maintaining forklift certification Supporting facility and equipment organization Identifying maintenance needs and coordinating corrective action What You Will Own As competency is demonstrated, ownership will expand to include: Production output and efficiency Daily production execution Production planning and scheduling Inventory accuracy and material flow Weekly material request and PO review process Shop-floor organization and workflow BOM accuracy and manufacturing documentation Identification and reduction of production bottlenecks Scrap reduction and process improvement initiatives On-time order completion and shipment readiness Ideal Candidate Looking for a long-term career opportunity Strong work ethic and willingness to learn Comfortable leading by example Manufacturing, operations, or supervisory experience preferred Mechanically inclined Organized and detail-oriented Strong communication and problem-solving skills Comfortable working alongside a bilingual production team Experience with inventory systems or QuickBooks is a plus Ability to learn CAD drawings and manufacturing documentation Benefits Dental insurance after 6 months of employment Paid holidays after 6 months of employment Additional paid time off eligibility after 1 year of employment (calendar year) What Success Looks Like Within the first year, the successful candidate becomes a trusted operational leader who understands every aspect of the manufacturing process, effectively manages production activities, maintains inventory accuracy, supports BOM integrity, improves workflow efficiency, reduces waste, and helps ensure customer orders are delivered accurately and on time with minimal oversight.
