Operations Manager - Production Facility

Company: Garman Partners
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 21, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Summary Our client is a respected, privately held industrial manufacturer providing specialized solutions to essential industries. With a strong culture rooted in accountability, hands-on leadership, and employee longevity, they are seeking an Operations Director to help lead the organization. The Operations Director is responsible for leading daily manufacturing operations at a custom production facility. This role oversees safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people while partnering cross-functionally with sales, engineering, and supply chain to meet customer and business goals. Key Responsibilities Lead all plant operations including production, staffing, and scheduling Drive performance in safety, quality, delivery, labor efficiency, and scrap reduction Oversee converting and assembly processes; maintain standard work Partner with inside and outside sales on capacity, scheduling, and customer commitments Support estimating and quoting through labor, machine time, and cost inputs Lead and develop supervisors and production teams Track KPIs, manage costs, and drive continuous improvement initiatives Executive Level Presence Qualifications 10 years of manufacturing operations leadership experience Strong understanding of production processes and lean principles Experience supporting sales alignment and cost estimation Proven people leadership and problem-solving skills ERP and KPI-driven decision-making experience At Garman Partners, we work as true hiring partners, combining industry insight with a practical, no-fluff approach to executive search. Our focus is on long-term matches that work for both companies and candidates.

Keywords: Garman Partners, Des Plaines , Operations Manager - Production Facility, Manufacturing , Chicago, Illinois