Hardy Pro Air Systems & Services Operations Manager Antioch, IL · Full time

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Hardy Pro Air Systems & Services is a Midwest US based company which focuses on the sales and service of air and material handling equipment for companies and municipalities nationwide.

Operations Manager — Hardy Pro-Air Systems & Service

Position Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for the overall performance of Hardy Pro-Air's production operations, with direct accountability for on-time delivery, process flow efficiency, and production planning. This role provides leadership and direction to two Supervisors and one Manager, ensuring the shop floor operates safely, efficiently, and in alignment with company goals.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, execution-focused leader with a strong operations or manufacturing background, capable of building disciplined processes, driving accountability through the leadership team, and continuously improving how work moves through the facility. This position requires strong organizational skills, sound judgment under pressure, and the ability to coach and develop supervisory staff.

Key Responsibilities

•         Lead and develop a team of 3-4 direct reports, setting clear expectations and holding the team accountable to on-time delivery, process, and cost goals.

•         Own on-time delivery performance, identifying bottlenecks and implementing corrective actions to consistently meet customer commitments.

•         Improve overall process flow across production, reducing waste, rework, and unnecessary handoffs between departments.

•         Develop and manage the production plan, balancing capacity, labor, and material availability against the order backlog.

•         Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase throughput, reduce lead times, and control production costs.

•         Monitor daily production metrics and lead regular reviews with the leadership team to track progress against delivery, cost, and efficiency goals.

•         Coordinate closely with sales, engineering, purchasing, and quality to ensure production schedules reflect real-world constraints and priorities.

•         Ensure a safe working environment and enforce compliance with safety policies and procedures.

Strategic Planning & Execution

•         Work closely with company leadership to align production capacity and staffing plans with growth targets.

•         Establish and track key performance indicators for delivery, cost, throughput, and process efficiency, reporting results to leadership.

Qualifications

•         Bachelor's degree in operations management, industrial engineering, business, or a related discipline preferred.

•         5+ years of experience in operations or production management, preferably within an industrial or manufacturing environment.

•         Lean/Six Sigma training desired.

•         Proven track record of directly managing supervisors or managers, including performance coaching and development.

•         Demonstrated success improving on-time delivery, process flow, or production planning in a prior role.

•         Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

•         Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to drive accountability across teams.

•         Comfortable working in a fast-paced entrepreneurial manufacturing environment.

Benefits include: Vacation Time off, Sick Time off, Health Benefits including medical, dental and vision plans, company paid life insurance and company sponsored Retirement Savings Plan.