Andover, MA
Wilmington, MA
Full time
R23222
A Day in the Life of an Operations Manager is responsible for leading and directing the manufacturing factory's day-to-day operations while driving long-term initiatives focused on operational efficiency, productivity, quality, and value creation.
This position provides leadership across the factory floor, including production scheduling, direct labor management, manufacturing processes, safety, 6S/Lean initiatives, quality, and continuous improvement. The Factory Operations Manager will also support new product introduction (NPI), develop capacity and staffing plans, and serve as the primary escalation point for production, personnel, material, and quality issues.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing leader who can effectively balance daily execution with strategic process improvement in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and global environment.
You Will Make an Impact By:
Factory Management
Lead, direct, and supervise Production and Test Supervisors and manufacturing personnel in a global operating environment.
Manage time and attendance, including shift schedules, PTO, sick time, overtime, and employee start/stop times.
Develop and maintain capacity and staffing models aligned with factory production requirements.
Manage employee performance, including annual reviews, goal setting, coaching, feedback, disciplinary actions, interviewing, hiring, and termination.
Ensure compliance with manufacturing processes, procedures, work instructions, safety requirements, and company policies.
Serve as the primary escalation point for personnel, supply, quality, technical, process, and cross-functional issues.
Lead daily production meetings to prioritize workflow across fabrication, assembly, and test work cells in support of the Master Production Schedule.
Coordinate shipping and receiving priorities with the Logistics team.
Ensure manufacturing tools and equipment are maintained and calibrated according to established schedules.
Identify material shortages and coordinate expediting activities with Purchasing and Planning.
Resolve production issues and implement corrective actions to improve productivity, quality, throughput, and delivery performance.
Provide budgetary recommendations for capital expenditures and direct and indirect labor requirements.
Lead and maintain 6S and Lean manufacturing activities throughout factory operations.
Help define, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures and workmanship standards.
Train, coach, and develop employees on job responsibilities, safety procedures, manufacturing processes, and company policies.
Process & Capacity Management
Develop capacity plans based on cycle time, demand forecasts, labor availability, and equipment requirements.
Translate capacity requirements into staffing and facilities planning needs.
Develop and maintain training matrices and cross-training plans to ensure workforce flexibility and adequate production coverage.
Develop Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) for manufacturing operations and ensure appropriate safety controls are implemented.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, cycle time, first-pass yield, productivity, and overall factory performance.
Identify opportunities to eliminate waste, improve manufacturing flow, reduce downtime, and optimize labor and equipment utilization.
Support New Product Introduction activities to ensure manufacturing readiness, process capability, training, tooling, and staffing are in place for successful production launches.
Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Purchasing, and other cross-functional teams to resolve issues and achieve production objectives.
Skills You Bring (Required Skills):
Bachelor's degree (preferred) in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
7+ years of progressive manufacturing or factory operations experience, with demonstrated leadership responsibility.
Experience managing production teams, supervisors, and direct labor personnel in a manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of production planning, capacity planning, scheduling, labor management, and manufacturing processes.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 6S, continuous improvement, and problem-solving methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement standard work, work instructions, training programs, and safety procedures.
Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Purchasing, and Logistics.
Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to use data to identify opportunities and drive improvements.
Excellent communication, leadership, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple competing demands and make effective decisions in a fast-paced production environment.
Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and production ramp activities is preferred.
Leadership Competencies
Operational Leadership: Drives consistent execution of production priorities while maintaining safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
People Leadership: Builds high-performing teams through clear expectations, coaching, accountability, and employee development.
Continuous Improvement: Identifies and implements opportunities to improve processes, productivity, quality, and efficiency.
Problem Solving: Quickly identifies root causes and coordinates effective corrective actions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Builds strong partnerships across manufacturing and corporate functions.
Strategic Planning: Connects factory capacity, staffing, equipment, and process requirements to broader business objectives.
Accountability: Takes ownership of factory performance and follows through on commitments and improvement initiatives.
Key Performance Areas
Success in this role will be measured through improvements in:
Safety performance
Production schedule attainment
First-pass yield and product quality
Manufacturing cycle time
Labor productivity and utilization
On-time delivery
Capacity utilization
Employee training and cross-training
Material availability
6S and Lean performance
Continuous improvement results
Employee engagement and performance
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. as required - Standing, walking, and operating in a warehouse environment for extended periods - Working conditions may include minimal climate control and varying noise levels - Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards including handling mechanical and electrical hardware, high voltage, gas, water, and heat- Responsible for supporting operations across three different shifts, with flexibility to adjust or change shifts as business needs require
Compensation and Benefits:
Pay Range: $109,750 - 182, 900 annually is a good faith estimate of the expected salary range for this position, based on a wide range of factors including qualifications, experience and training, operational and business needs and other considerations permitted by law. At MKS, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.
LI-AS1
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. persons." "U.S. persons" are generally defined as U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("MKS") is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .
If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role
At MKS, it's all about courage, big ideas, and a serious passion for innovation. Winning here is about exploring possibilities, taking action , and solving our customers' toughest challenges. It's not just a job - it's what you make of it. While you shape your role and make it unique, we invest in you with on-the-job and formal training, as well as educational assistance. Curiosity is key at MKS - ask questions, own your path.
Our success comes from celebrating the unique skills, diverse perspectives, and lived experience of employees from over 100 countries. The goal is to make sure that everyone feels that they belong. Diversity isn't just a nice-to-have; making sure everyone feels included is a big deal for us.
Our group of ~10,000 employees serves semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial markets. With over 3,800 patents, our products are enabling advancements in 5G, renewable energy & storage, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data. We're the behind-the-scenes support for some amazing technology.
MKS Inc., enables technologies that transform our world. MKS Inc, Product Overview (https://www.mks.com/mam/celum/celum_assets/resources/MKSProductOverview-DS.pdf)
