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About the job

General Manager – Manufacturing Operations

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a large, established manufacturing operation in the Yoder, Indiana area. This individual will be responsible for overseeing daily operations, driving operational efficiency, managing costs, maintaining strong customer relationships, and developing a high-performing leadership team.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, results-driven manufacturing leader who understands the complexities of labor-intensive production environments and can balance operational performance with customer satisfaction and employee development.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organization that places a strong emphasis on continuous improvement, leadership development, and long-term career growth.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Operations & Performance

Provide overall leadership and direction for a manufacturing operation with more than 250 employees across multiple shifts.

Oversee daily production activities to ensure safety, quality, efficiency, productivity, and customer requirements are consistently achieved.

Monitor manufacturing performance through key performance indicators (KPIs), including labor efficiency, material costs, scrap, waste, downtime, and production output.

Manage labor costs and staffing levels in a labor-intensive manufacturing environment with fluctuating production demands.

Identify and implement opportunities to reduce material costs, minimize scrap and rework, and improve overall manufacturing efficiency.

Lead short- and long-term corrective actions to address production challenges, quality concerns, and operational inefficiencies.

Ensure compliance with established safety, quality, and environmental standards.

Support facility maintenance, equipment reliability, and overall operational readiness.

Participate in budgeting, financial planning, cost reduction initiatives, and strategic operational decisions.

Customer Relationships & Production Planning

Develop and maintain strong relationships with key customers, ensuring consistent communication and responsiveness to their needs.

Oversee production planning and execution in a fast-paced, just-in-time manufacturing environment.

Work closely with customers and internal teams to accommodate changing production schedules, order requirements, and delivery expectations.

Ensure manufacturing operations consistently meet customer quality, service, and delivery requirements.

Collaborate with sales, engineering, and other functional teams to resolve issues and support business objectives.

Continuous Improvement

Champion lean manufacturing principles and a culture of continuous improvement.

Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, increase productivity, and enhance operational performance.

Partner with internal continuous improvement resources to develop and execute improvement initiatives.

Standardize manufacturing processes and implement sustainable solutions to operational challenges.

Use data and performance metrics to identify negative trends, drive accountability, and measure improvements.

Leadership & Team Development

Lead, coach, and develop a team of manufacturing managers, supervisors, and operational leaders.

Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and employee engagement.

Identify and develop emerging leaders through coaching, mentoring, performance evaluations, and training.

Foster positive employee relations built on trust, respect, communication, and teamwork.

Work collaboratively with human resources, accounting, safety, engineering, and maintenance teams to ensure operational objectives are achieved.

Promote a safe, organized, and positive work environment that supports both employee development and business performance.

Qualifications

Required:

Bachelor's degree.

Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing experience and 7 years of proven management or leadership experience.

Demonstrated success leading large-scale manufacturing operations and managing multiple levels of leadership.

Strong understanding of manufacturing KPIs, labor management, material costs, budgeting, and operational efficiency.

Experience managing production in a fast-paced environment with changing customer demands and tight delivery schedules.

Proven ability to identify and implement measurable cost savings, productivity improvements, and waste reduction initiatives.

Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and organizational skills.

Experience building and maintaining relationships with key customers.

Ability to analyze operational performance, solve complex problems, and make sound business decisions.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing management systems.

Preferred:

Experience in labor-intensive, high-volume, or high-mix manufacturing environments.

Background supporting OEM customers or just-in-time production operations.

Experience implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Demonstrated success developing supervisors and managers into higher-level leadership positions.

Experience overseeing multiple shifts and cross-functional operational teams.

Strong financial acumen with experience managing manufacturing budgets and cost reduction initiatives.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for more than someone who can manage production. The successful candidate will be a well-rounded business leader who understands how labor, materials, quality, and customer expectations impact overall profitability.

This individual must be comfortable working in a dynamic manufacturing environment where priorities can shift quickly and operational challenges require decisive leadership.

Equally important is the ability to build relationships, develop people, and create a culture where employees are engaged, supported, and held accountable.

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of operational discipline, financial awareness, customer focus, and a genuine commitment to developing strong teams.

What the Opportunity Offers

Leadership responsibility for a large, established manufacturing operation.

Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on operational performance and long-term business success.

Supportive, team-oriented culture with a strong emphasis on employee development.

Access to leadership coaching, mentoring, and professional development resources.

Opportunities for continued career advancement within a growing organization.

Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

Schedule: Full-time, on-site leadership position. Flexibility is required to support a multi-shift manufacturing operation and respond to business needs outside standard working hours.

Travel: Minimal, primarily local.