gpac | The Recruitment Platform

Operations Manager in Salina

Date Posted: 26 August 2026

Job Snapshot

Job Description

A growing industrial manufacturer is seeking an experienced Operations Manager in northeast Kansas to lead manufacturing operations and drive improvements across production, supply chain, safety, quality, cost, and delivery. This position works closely with the General Manager and leadership team to execute business strategy while developing a high-performing manufacturing organization.  People management skills are most important, and experience working in a cyclical manufacturing plant is important (production changes based on the time of year). Relocation will be considered.

Responsibilities

  • Direct and coordinate production and distribution activities.
  • Develop production plans supporting short- and long-term business growth.
  • Manage production schedules, staffing, inventory, workflow, and resource requirements.
  • Hire, train, coach, evaluate, and develop manufacturing teams.
  • Partner with HR to improve employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
  • Develop production tracking and quality systems and analyze operational performance.
  • Drive improvements in safety, quality, efficiency, throughput, and cost.
  • Develop budgets and manage labor, materials, equipment, and operating expenditures.
  • Own capital projects from justification through implementation, ensuring projects meet budget.
  • Lead Supply Chain purchasing strategy to improve cost and delivery performance.
  • Partner with Engineering to minimize downtime and maintain effective preventive maintenance programs.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • 7+ years of senior manufacturing management experience, preferably in agricultural machinery manufacturing.
  • Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations and production management.
  • Experience with budgeting, production planning, staffing, and operational performance.
  • ERP system experience.
  • Microsoft Office proficiency.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally approximately 15%.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree.
  • Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.
  • Dynamics AX and/or M2M experience.
  • Strong Continuous Improvement and operational excellence background.

Interested?

For confidential consideration, contact:

Alana Seddon 
Search Consultant
Phone: 785-783-6703
Email: alana.seddon@gogpac.com

Keywords

Operations Manager • Manufacturing Operations Manager • Manufacturing Manager • Plant Operations • Operations Leadership • Production Management • Lean Manufacturing • Six Sigma • Continuous Improvement • Supply Chain • Purchasing • Production Planning • CAPEX • Capital Projects • ERP • Dynamics AX • M2M • Quality • Safety • Preventive Maintenance • Budget Management • Operational Excellence • Industrial Manufacturing

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.

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