Senior Manager of Manufacturing Operations

Location: Uxbridge, MA | Reports to: Vice President, Operations

About the role

The Senior Manager, Operations is a hands-on leader responsible for the daily execution and performance of manufacturing and logistics operations, with direct accountability for production output, efficiency, and on-time delivery. Accountable for results across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and People (SQDCIP), this role directly manages production and logistics leaders and drives daily execution by setting priorities, adjusting labor and resources to meet production demands, resolving operational issues, and ensuring customer commitments are achieved. As a key member of the Operations leadership team, the Senior Manager drives operational discipline and accountability, develops frontline leaders, and champions continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen productivity, manufacturing performance, and overall operational effectiveness.

You are an experienced operations leader who enjoys being hands-on, visible, and actively involved in the day-to-day business. You are comfortable moving between the production floor and leadership discussions, working closely with teams to understand challenges, remove barriers, and drive results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity. You lead from the front and build credibility by staying connected to the work, asking thoughtful questions, and partnering with employees and leaders to solve problems. You use data, sound judgment, and Lean principles to set priorities, strengthen operational discipline, and turn business goals into practical actions that deliver measurable and sustainable improvements. As a senior-level manager, you balance strategic thinking with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and support execution when needed. You develop capable leaders, hold teams accountable, and create an environment where people feel empowered to contribute ideas and improve how work gets done. Above all, you bring integrity, ownership, approachability, and a genuine commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and team success.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Development

• Provide hands-on leadership to Production and Logistics supervisors, maintain a visible presence in daily operations, coach and develop frontline leaders, and proactively remove barriers to safety, quality, productivity, and delivery.
• Set clear expectations, review performance, and hold leaders and teams accountable for results while fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, workforce planning, and leadership development while modeling Lenze Leadership Principles.

Operational Leadership

• Direct daily manufacturing and logistics operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity goals, maintaining a regular production-floor presence to identify issues and drive timely resolution.
• Manage capacity and labor planning to support production requirements and customer commitments, while implementing Lean manufacturing into daily operations and standard work.
• Provide the Vice President, Operations with clear recommendations on operational priorities, risks, resource needs, and opportunities to improve performance.
• Oversee warehousing, inventory management, material flow, shipping, and logistics operations, working closely with supervisors to resolve service issues, material constraints, and workflow disruptions.
• Drive improvements in inventory accuracy, working capital, on-time delivery, and logistics efficiency through disciplined processes, performance monitoring, and corrective action.
• Ensure compliance with trade, import/export, transportation, and internal control requirements, maintaining consistent processes and documentation.

Financial Management

• Own operational budgets, forecasts, labor planning, and manufacturing costs, proactively identifying variances, managing cost drivers, and implementing corrective actions to achieve financial and operational targets.
• Lead productivity, cost reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable savings, improve operational performance, and sustain long-term results.
• Develop and prioritize capital investment recommendations, build the business case for proposed investments, and oversee approved projects to ensure expected operational and financial outcomes are achieved.

Continuous Improvement & Performance Management

• Lead KPI reviews and daily management systems, using data and direct observation to prioritize actions and improve performance.
• Facilitate structured problem solving and continuous improvement with managers, supervisors, and frontline teams.
• Establish clear standard work, process discipline, and follow-up routines that sustain operational gains.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, and Customer Service to resolve operational issues and achieve business objectives.
• Lead operational readiness for new products, customer requirements, strategic projects, and growth initiatives.
• Collaborate with local and global stakeholders to align processes, share best practices, manage risk, and support digital manufacturing and transformation programs.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture through visible leadership, regular floor engagement, and prompt follow-up on hazards and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with EHS, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements while driving improvement in safety and quality performance.
• Support ISO standards, audit readiness, sustainability initiatives, and business continuity planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or