Job Description

Job Location Thorp, WI 54771 Job Category Administrative

At Forte Opening Solutions, we don't just manufacture doors; we create pathways to possibilities. We empower our employees to shape the future of our industry. Join a team where craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology, and where your ideas can open new doors. Together, we build not just products, but a culture of excellence and collaboration.

The Operations Manager plays a critical leadership role in delivering exceptional manufacturing performance through people development, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. This leader drives execution of monthly and quarterly production plans to meet revenue, margin, quality, and delivery goals while fostering a culture rooted in safety, respect, and accountability.

The ideal candidate is a proactive change agent who empowers teams, removes barriers to performance, and aligns cross-functional resources to achieve shared business outcomes. They model servant leadership, invest in talent development, and implement lean systems to improve flow, reduce waste, and scale operational capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture rooted in personal ownership, proactive risk identification, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with all OSHA, company, and site-specific safety requirements through training, audits, and engagement.
• Embed safety into daily operations and leadership routines; empower team members to speak up and act on unsafe conditions.

Quality & Operational Excellence

• Drive a culture of quality by enforcing standards, reducing variation, and enabling team ownership of product outcomes.
• Partner with quality and engineering teams to resolve root causes of non-conformance and implement robust corrective actions.
• Promote adherence to standard work and good manufacturing practices to ensure consistent, high-quality output.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives including Six Sigma, Kaizen, and error-proofing to elevate product and process quality.

Delivery & Flow

• Execute production schedules that meet customer expectations for on-time delivery and responsiveness.
• Improve flow by identifying and removing bottlenecks, ensuring materials and labor are aligned to production priorities.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with planning, customer service, and supply chain to align output with demand.
• Serve as the primary operations contact for escalations, special requests, and high-visibility orders.

Cost & Asset Utilization

• Optimize labor efficiency, equipment utilization, and material usage to improve margins and reduce waste.
• Partner with the Plant Manager to define and deliver cost improvement goals as part of the Annual Operating Plan.
• Monitor and manage departmental budgets, identifying opportunities to reinvest savings into safety, quality, or capability building.
• Select and implement manufacturing technologies that enhance productivity and long-term cost competitiveness.

People Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, train, and retain a high-performing, engaged production team that reflects the company’s values.
• Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback through coaching, performance evaluations, and development plans.
• Lead with empathy, consistency, and accountability - modeling the behaviors needed to sustain a strong, people-centered culture.
• Build cross-functional collaboration and promote a “one plant” mindset focused on shared wins.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record of leading teams, implementing lean practices, and driving operational results.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred, or ability to obtain within 12 months.