Chief Operational Manager

Location:Aurora, IL

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

· Familiar with all aspects of manufacturing operations, including Production, Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Maintenance, Materials, Continuous Improvement, and Quality

· Providing leadership for manufacturing operation and ensure production goals and customer commitments are achieved

· Driving operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and employee engagement

· Devising and executing strategic initiatives to improve manufacturing efficiency and profitability

· Promoting teamwork and sense of responsibility among all team members

Manufacturing Excellence

· Developing and executing strategies that improve: First Pass Yield (FPY), Overall Yield, Scrap Reduction, Throughput, Capacity Utilization, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

· Identifying bottlenecks and implement solutions and corrective actions

· Pushing root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve process stability and eventual product quality

· Making data-driven decisions with KPIs and operational metrics.

Continuous Quality Improvement

· Applying Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies throughout the organization

· Driving Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping initiatives, 5S, Standard Work, TPM, SMED, Visual Management, and waste elimination activities

· Promoting a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence across all functional areas

Leadership & Accountability

· Building a high-performing leadership team consisting of managers and supervisors

· Establishing clear performance expectations and hold leaders accountable for achieving operational objectives

· Conducting regular performance reviews using measurable operational metrics.

· Developing and promoting succession plans and mentor future leaders from subordinates

Financial & Business Performance

· Executing operational budgets and contribute to overall P&L performance

· Implementing cost reduction initiatives while maintaining product quality and customer satisfaction

· Planning capital equipment investments and develop ROI-based business cases

· Working closely with Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain and Commercial teams to support business growth

· Following financial/accounting rules and regulatory requirements strictly

Customer Satisfaction & Quality

· Ensuring compliance with customer expectation, regulatory, and quality management system requirements.

· Monitoring and pushing customer issue resolution and corrective action activities

· Supporting new product introductions by ensuring successful transition from

engineering prototypes into manufacturing release

Required Experience

· Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline

· 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including leading manufacturing managers and supervisors position

· Demonstrating success in improving Manufacturing Yield, Scrap Reduction, Productivity, Cost, Quality Improvement

· Experience managing multi-shift manufacturing operations

Preferred Qualification

· Hands-on manufacturing leader with experience in fields involving use of high or ultra-high vacuum equipment, medical device manufacturing or semiconductors related industry

· Lean Manufacturing experience

· Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification

· Experience in high-mix, high-volume manufacturing

· Experience leading manufacturing organizations with full P&L responsibility.