Manufacturing Operations Manager

Salamander Designs is a U.S.-based premium furniture manufacturer serving commercial and residential markets. We are seeking a Manufacturing Operations Manager to support and strengthen day-to-day manufacturing performance. This role plays a critical support function across production, purchasing, and quality, ensuring our operations deliver consistent quality, predictable lead times, with a focus on continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in production management and Lean manufacturing, thrives in a hands-on factory environment, and is motivated by process discipline, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities
• Support daily production operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Provide operational support to Production Supervisors and department managers to ensure consistent execution.
• Lead Lean manufacturing initiatives including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen events, standard work development, and waste reduction.
• Partner with Scheduling to align customer demand with available capacity and constraints.
• Improve production flow, work-in-process (WIP) control, and identification of bottlenecks.
• Coordinate development and maintenance of SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Support supplier purchasing and supplier quality activities, including Vendor Quality Audits (VQAs), return-to-vendor (RTV) processes, corrective actions, and inventory coordination.
• Support preventive maintenance coordination and escalate equipment issues as needed.
• Track, analyze, and report key performance indicators related to quality, delivery, and efficiency performance.

Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Production Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Lean Manufacturing certification, or equivalent hands-on experience required.
• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, supplier quality, or purchasing support roles.
• Working knowledge of Lean principles, supplier quality processes, and ERP systems.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset.