Senior Operations Program Manager

Senior Operations Program Manager

This position will be second-in-command to the Senior Production Manager. This person runs the programs that keep operations moving: procurement, projects, continuous improvement, training, and the day-to-day administrative work. They step in for the Senior Production Manager when they're out. They lead from the floor, not the office, and are the link between operations leadership and the supervisors and leads running each shift.

Responsibilities will include:

Procurement & Materials 

• Manage procurement for operations: spares, consumables, services, and capital items. 
• Own the requisition-to-PO process from end to end. Keep cost centers accurate and spend on budget. 
• Build and hold vendor relationships to delivery, quality, and cost commitments. 

Operations Projects 

• Lead operations improvement and capital projects from scope through commissioning. 
• Coordinate cross-functional work across maintenance, engineering, EHS, and production. 
• Track scope, schedule, and budget. Keep stakeholders informed and decisions moving. 

Continuous Improvement 

• Run the CI program for operations. Find the losses, prioritize them, and drive fixes to closure. 
• Facilitate root-cause investigations and standardize what works across shifts and lines. 
• Build and maintain the metrics and reviews that make performance visible. 

Training & Development 

• Own the operator training and qualification program. 
• Build training content and competency standards with supervisors and SMEs. 
• Onboard new hires and close skill gaps as the operation scales. 

Administration & Operational Support 

• Carry the administrative load that keeps operations running: reporting, documentation, scheduling, and records. 
• Prepare data and materials for production meetings and leadership reviews. 
• Keep procedures, standards, and records current and audit-ready. 

Leadership & Coaching 

• Act as 2IC for the Senior Production Manager. Carry the load and make the calls in their absence. 
• Coach and develop supervisors and shift leads on people leadership and problem-solving. 
• Serve as the liaison between operations leadership and the front line, carrying context both directions. 
• Lead from the front. Be on the floor, visible, and hands-on when it counts. 

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:  

Required 

• Working knowledge of standard operations and processes. You understand how the plant runs today and where it breaks. 
• Demonstrated experience leading and coaching in an operational environment. 
• Track record of getting things done across shifts and functions without needing to be told twice. 
• Strong organizational and communication skills. Can own the admin without losing the plot. 
• Willing and able to work onsite and be present across shifts. 

Preferred 

• Experience running projects, procurement, or continuous improvement work. 
• Formal CI training such as Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent.