Operations Manager - Manufacturing Carolina Skiff is seeking an experienced and results-driven Operations Manager to oversee the company's complete manufacturing operations. This position has overall responsibility for the day-to-day performance of the manufacturing facility and will provide leadership and direction to all Plant Managers, Supervisors, and manufacturing employees involved in the production of fiberglass boats. The Operations Manager will be responsible for ensuring that boats are manufactured safely, efficiently, on schedule, and to Carolina Skiff's quality standards. This individual will establish accountability throughout the manufacturing organization, identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and ensure that production goals are consistently achieved. The Operations Manager reports directly to the President of Carolina Skiff and serves as the senior operational leader responsible for translating company objectives into effective manufacturing execution. Key Responsibilities Provide overall leadership and direction for all manufacturing operations involved in the production of fiberglass boats. Directly oversee and hold accountable all Plant Managers, Production Supervisors, and manufacturing personnel. Establish clear production expectations, priorities, performance standards, and accountability throughout the organization. Ensure production schedules and volume requirements are achieved while maintaining quality and safety standards. Monitor daily production performance and address bottlenecks, delays, staffing issues, equipment problems, and other obstacles to production. Ensure proper coordination between manufacturing departments and production stages to maintain a consistent flow of boats through the plant. Develop and maintain efficient manufacturing processes, procedures, and workflows. Ensure appropriate staffing levels and effective utilization of labor and resources. Work closely with leadership to establish production capacity, labor requirements, and operational goals. Leadership & Personnel Management Lead, develop, and coach Plant Managers and Supervisors to create a high-performing manufacturing leadership team. Establish a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement. Ensure supervisors effectively manage their teams and consistently enforce company policies and procedures. Set expectations for attendance, productivity, quality, conduct, and performance. Identify training and development needs and ensure employees receive appropriate training. Address performance issues promptly and consistently in coordination with Human Resources and company leadership. Promote strong communication between management, supervisors, and hourly employees. Develop future leaders within the manufacturing organization. Quality Maintain high standards of workmanship and product quality throughout the manufacturing process. Work closely with Quality personnel and manufacturing leadership to identify and eliminate recurring defects and production issues. Establish accountability for first-time quality and minimize rework, scrap, warranty-related issues, and production defects. Ensure manufacturing processes are followed consistently and that quality standards are understood at every level of the organization. Investigate significant quality problems and implement corrective actions. Safety & Compliance Maintain a strong safety culture throughout the manufacturing facility. Ensure supervisors and employees follow all company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulations. Hold management and employees accountable for safe work practices. Identify potential workplace hazards and ensure corrective actions are implemented. Work with appropriate personnel to investigate accidents and develop preventative measures. Promote a workplace where safety is considered a fundamental part of production—not a separate function. Continuous Improvement & Efficiency Identify opportunities to improve productivity, throughput, labor efficiency, quality, and cost. Implement Lean Manufacturing and other continuous improvement principles where appropriate. Analyze production data and key performance indicators to identify trends and areas for improvement. Reduce unnecessary labor, material waste, downtime, rework, and production inefficiencies. Standardize successful processes and best practices across manufacturing operations. Encourage employees and supervisors to identify and solve operational problems. Equipment, Materials & Facility Work with appropriate departments to ensure manufacturing equipment, tooling, and facilities are maintained and available for production. Identify equipment needs, maintenance concerns, and capital improvement opportunities. Coordinate with maintenance and other support functions to minimize production downtime. Ensure proper use and control of materials and manufacturing resources. Participate in evaluating and implementing new equipment, technology, processes, and manufacturing capabilities. Planning, Reporting & Communication Conduct regular production meetings with Plant Managers and Supervisors to review performance, priorities, staffing, quality, safety, and production challenges. Establish and monitor key manufacturing performance indicators. Provide the President with regular updates regarding production performance, staffing, quality, safety, costs, and operational challenges. Escalate significant issues promptly and present practical solutions and recommendations. Develop action plans to address operational deficiencies and follow through to completion. Collaborate with Sales, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other departments to ensure manufacturing supports overall company objectives. Performance Expectations The successful Operations Manager will be expected to establish and maintain a manufacturing operation that consistently delivers:

Safety:

A safe, accountable, and proactive work environment.

Quality:

Consistent fiberglass boat construction that meets Carolina Skiff standards.

Delivery:

Production completed according to established schedules.

Productivity:

Efficient utilization of labor, materials, equipment, and facility capacity.

Accountability:

Clear ownership of performance at every management level.

Continuous Improvement:

Ongoing improvement in processes, efficiency, quality, and cost.

Leadership:

A strong management team capable of effectively leading the workforce. Qualifications 7+ years of progressive manufacturing or production management experience. Proven experience managing a large manufacturing workforce, including managers, supervisors, and hourly employees. Experience in boat manufacturing, fiberglass manufacturing, composite manufacturing, automotive, marine, or a similar production environment strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience managing multiple departments or production areas. Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, quality control, safety, labor management, and continuous improvement. Proven ability to lead through Plant Managers and Supervisors rather than managing solely at the individual employee level. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. Demonstrated ability to improve manufacturing productivity and efficiency. Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills. Strong working knowledge of manufacturing metrics and performance management. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment. Leadership Profile The ideal candidate is a hands-on, accountable manufacturing leader who understands that successful operations require both strong systems and strong people leadership. This person should be comfortable walking the plant floor, identifying problems firsthand, holding leaders accountable, making difficult decisions, and working directly with employees when necessary. At the same time, the Operations Manager must be capable of developing Plant Managers and Supervisors so that the organization does not depend on one individual to solve every problem. The successful candidate will bring a "get it done" mentality, strong manufacturing discipline, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to building a culture where safety, quality, productivity, and accountability are non-negotiable.

Pay:

$100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Relocation assistance Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person