Operations Manager - Switchgear at Industrial Electric Manufacturing in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Job description

• IEM is currently seeking Operations Managers for our switchgear team in Surrey, B.C. location and will report into the Director of Operations. The Operations Manager is responsible for end-to-end ownership of the production value stream, driving operational performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and customer expectations.
• This role is accountable for meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and efficiency while fostering a data-driven, bottom-up problem-solving culture. They will lead a cross-functional production team, ensuring that workflow optimization, resource utilization, and Lean manufacturing principles are effectively applied to drive operational excellence.
• This position collaborates closely with Planning, Materials, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance to optimize processes, resolve bottlenecks, and implement continuous improvement initiatives that support long-term business growth.
• Please note: This position requires 100% in-office presence in our Surrey, B.C. offices and does not offer remote work. This is a day shift position.

Responsibilities

• KPI Ownership & Performance Management: Own, monitor, and drive improvement in key performance indicators (KPIs) including on-time delivery (OTD), first-pass yield (FPY), defects per unit (DPU), safety incidents, and cost efficiency within the value stream.
• Lead Daily Operations: Oversee daily production activities, ensuring work is executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with production schedules, quality standards, and operational goals.
• Team Leadership & Accountability: Manage and develop a cross-functional team including production, quality, materials, and maintenance. Set expectations, provide coaching, and ensure accountability at all levels.
• Production Scheduling & Efficiency: Partner with Production Planning and Materials teams to align demand with capacity, ensuring a balanced workflow, efficient material usage, and optimized labor deployment.
• Data-Driven Problem Solving: Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for operational issues, using tools such as Pareto analysis, A3 problem-solving, and process mapping to drive improvements.
• Continuous Improvement & Lean Implementation: Champion Lean manufacturing principles, eliminating waste and driving efficiency through 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance teams to identify and resolve design, process, or equipment issues affecting production.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure adherence to safety policies, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. Champion a culture of zero injuries and high-quality production.
• The candidate will be expected to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations environments
• 5+ years in a supervisory or managerial role (Operations Manager, Production Manager, Production Supervisor Manufacturing Manager, Value Stream Leadership roles.
• Proven track record of improving KPIs (e.g., cycle time reduction, FPY improvements, DPU reductions, or cost-saving initiatives).
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher) preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus.
• APICS, CPIM, or other supply chain-related certification is a plus for materials-heavy value streams.
• Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to develop, coach, and manage cross-functional teams, ensuring accountability and engagement.
• Data-Driven Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with experience in using KPIs, root cause analysis, and Lean tools to drive decision-making.
• Process Optimization: Hands-on experience in Lean manufacturing, value stream mapping, waste elimination, and production workflow optimization.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to communicate effectively with shop floor teams, peers, and senior leadership, ensuring alignment across the organization.
• Time Management & Prioritization: Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience with ERP/MRP systems (INFOR/Syteline a plus), Tableau, and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for reporting and data analysis.
• Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization.

Skills

Required

• KPI management
• Data-driven problem solving
• Root cause analysis
• Lean manufacturing principles
• Process optimization
• Cross-functional team leadership
• Communication
• Time management
• ERP/MRP systems
• Tableau

Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher)
• INFOR/Syteline

Benefits

• We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at https://www.iemfg.com/careers
• Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
• [Compensation Range: CAD 123,000 - 152,000]