Senior Manager, Manufacturing Operations 1st Shift

Mission & Values

The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: we come together, we always look for a better way, and we create possibilities.

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Manufacturing Operations, leads a manufacturing area with responsibility for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and culture on 1st Shift. This role drives daily execution and long-term improvement through strong leadership, disciplined operational routines, and adherence to Lean principles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end operations for a manufacturing area, ensuring strong performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost and culture.
• Develop the annual operational plan and align area metrics with overall plant objectives.
• Allocate resources to meet targets.
• Lead and support salaried and hourly production employees within a manufacturing area.
• Use production line boards to track performance, identify issues and drive problem resolution across shifts.
• Maintain a solid understanding of plant operations and follow escalation processes to resolve abnormalities and implement corrective actions.
• Drive adherence to Lean manufacturing practices, standardized work and the site escalation process.
• Track department metrics, manage budgets and deliver daily report-outs during production meetings.
• Establish a consistent operating rhythm including daily meetings with Area Business Leader and Team Leaders.
• Ensure standardized work is implemented, followed and regularly reviewed for stability and compliance.
• Coach Area Business Leaders, Process Improvement Engineers and Team Leaders on standardized work, job instruction methods and effective training practices.
• Maintain 5S standards across the entire manufacturing area.
• Champion the Appliance Production System and embed continuous improvement into daily operations.
• Engage cross-functional escalation teams, including Lean resources, to address and resolve issues quickly and effectively.
• Identify and eliminate waste through both short-term countermeasures and long-term improvement initiatives.
• Serve as a second-level responder in the escalation process for operational issues.
• Lead regular reviews of open issues, assign ownership, track actions to closure and communicate updates to stakeholders.
• Drive kaizen events and ensure resulting countermeasures are implemented and sustained.
• Oversee work area rebalancing through tools such as Yamazumi charts.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, supplier management, and project implementation, with technical expertise across supply chain functions such as warehousing, distribution, materials, quality, procurement, or fulfillment.
• BS/BA degree, ideally in engineering, supply chain management, or business.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and driving continuous improvement using Lean, DMAIC, work-out, or similar methodologies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to teach, facilitate meetings, coach teams, give constructive feedback, and listen effectively.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and solve complex problems across cross-functional teams.
• Track record of achieving business goals, leading change, and delivering measurable results through analytical methods and disciplined execution.

Working Conditions

• Working conditions are normal for both an office and a manufacturing environment.
• Work may involve lifting materials and products of up to 25 pounds.
• Working in the manufacturing environment requires the use of safety equipment, including but not limited to: safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, work shoes/boots.

Culture

Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.