Air Freight Operations Manager Jobs in Wisconsin

Building the people that build the world.

With platforms in HVAC and Detection and Measurement, SPX Technologies build innovative solutions that enable a safer, more efficient, sustainable world.  Through our RiSE talent development framework, we Reach, Identify, Strengthen, and Engage our employees to support them in their continued development.  We're a global company of problem solvers, collaborators, and innovators, and our businesses build solutions that impact the world.

SPX is a diverse team of unique individuals who all make an impact. We are opening a new campus facility that will have two of our businesses (Marley and Ingenia Technologies) evolving and growing together at SPX's very first campus.

How you will make an Impact (Job Summary)

As the Operations Manager, you will provide hands-on leadership for the safe, reliable, and efficient execution of fabrication operations. You will be a key operations leader for the production facility in Madison, AL. You will lead fabrication operations across multiple shifts, including automated and stand-alone fabrication, the machine shop, and paint operations. This role is responsible for developing supervisors and hourly production employees, establishing operating discipline, and delivering results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and people. The successful Operations Manager will combine strong floor leadership with strategic thinking, technical manufacturing knowledge, and a proven ability to scale operations and drive continuous improvement.

What you can expect in this role (Job Responsibilities)   

While each day brings new opportunities at SPX, your core responsibilities will be:  

Management/Leadership:    

• Lead, mentor, develop, and manage production supervisors across multiple shifts, providing clear expectations, coaching, and support to achieve safe and effective operations  

• Actively participate as a member of the plant leadership team to help determine strategy, priorities, and direction for site operations  

• Build a culture of trust, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement while consistently modeling the SPX core values  

• Partner with Human Resources in workforce planning, recruitment, selection, onboarding, and retention of production employees  

• Identify capability gaps and implement training, certification, cross-training, and development plans for supervisors and hourly employees  

• Lead performance management, succession planning, and talent development for the fabrication organization  

• Establish tiered daily management, leader standard work, visual controls, and key performance indicators aligned with site goals  

• Address employee relations, performance, and accountability issues in a timely, consistent, and constructive manner  

• Ensure employees are properly trained and qualified for assigned work, equipment, and processes  

Safety:    

• Own the safety performance of fabrication operations by promoting and enforcing safe work practices, procedures, and regulatory requirements  

• Lead and support investigations of incidents, near misses, and safety concerns, ensuring corrective actions are completed and sustained  

• Serve as a visible safety champion, encouraging employees to identify hazards, stop unsafe work, and resolve risks at the source  

Operations Execution:    

• Own daily execution across automated fabrication, stand-alone fabrication, machine shop, and paint operations to meet production schedules and customer commitments  

• Translate demand into practical capacity, labor, shift, equipment, tooling, and floor-space requirements while identifying constraints and recovery actions  

• Manage departmental budgets, labor performance, overtime, consumables, and operating costs in alignment with business objectives  

• Partner with Quality and Engineering to build quality at the source, improve first-pass yield, resolve nonconformances, and sustain corrective actions  

• Coordinate with Materials, Planning, Procurement, and Logistics to ensure material readiness, inventory accuracy, and uninterrupted production flow  

• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability, machine uptime, preventive maintenance, and tooling readiness  

• Review and communicate SQDCP performance, operational risks, constraints, corrective actions, and resource needs to site and business leadership  

Continuous Improvement:    

• Provide leadership for Lean manufacturing deployment, standard work, visual management, and structured problem solving  

• Develop and implement strategies to improve flow, labor efficiency, throughput, productivity, quality, and cost performance  

• Analyze key performance indicators and operating data to identify trends, prioritize opportunities, and implement sustainable countermeasures  

• Identify and implement opportunities for automation, process optimization, equipment upgrades, and manufacturing technology advancement  

• Support long-term capacity planning, capital prioritization, equipment installation, and startup activities required to scale fabrication operations  

• Lead cross-functional improvement projects that support the overall goals of the Madison site and SPX business  

What we are looking for (Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education)  

We each bring something to the table, and we are looking for someone who has:  

Required Experience   

• At least 7 years of progressive supervisory, management, or operations leadership experience in a manufacturing environment   

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities  

• Experience leading through supervisors or team leaders with responsibility for multiple shifts, production teams, and operating results  

• Experience in a manufacturing environment that produces highly engineered, customized, or configured products  

• Working knowledge of metal fabrication processes such as laser, punch, plasma, forming, press brake, welding, machining, and industrial paint operations  

• Demonstrated ability to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and employee engagement  

• Proven experience attracting, retaining, motivating, and developing high-performing, diverse teams  

• Demonstrated ability to lead Lean deployment, continuous improvement, cost savings, and process optimization  

• Strong knowledge of production planning, scheduling, capacity management, labor planning, inventory control, and quality systems  

• Experience launching a new facility, production area, major equipment installation, product, or operational transfer preferred  

• Strong floor leadership with the ability to move effectively between strategic planning and day-to-day operational problem solving  

• Ability to prioritize multiple projects, manage competing operational needs, and meet customer and business deadlines  

• Experience using ERP, MRP, manufacturing execution, production reporting, or inventory management systems  

• Strong Microsoft Office skills with the ability to analyze data and communicate performance through clear reports and presentations  

• Knowledge of HVAC, air-handling, industrial equipment, or engineered-to-order manufacturing preferred  

Education & Certifications  

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent combinations of education, training, and directly relevant experience will be considered   

• Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent continuous-improvement training or certification preferred   

Travel & Working Environment  

• Onsite  

• Plant environment with regular production-floor presence and potential exposure to weather conditions, temperature variation, moving equipment, excessive heat, and/or noise. Occasional travel and schedule flexibility may be required to support multiple shifts, training, suppliers, or other SPX locations  

How we live our culture

Our culture is at the center of what we do and, more importantly, who we are.  Our core values set a standard for how we manage ourselves, and our Leadership Model sets the standard for how we engage with each other.  Whether you are an individual contributor or you lead a large team, each of us leads at SPX.

What benefits do we offer?

We know that the well-being of our employees is integral. Our benefits include:

• Generous and flexible paid time off including paid personal time off, caregiver, parental, and volunteer leave
• Competitive health insurance plans and 401(k) match, with benefits starting day one
• Competitive and performance-based compensation packages and bonus plans
• Educational assistance, leadership development programs, and recognition programs  

Our commitment to embrace diversity to build a culture of inclusion at SPX

We value different backgrounds, experiences, and voices at SPX, and we are committed to challenging ourselves, openly communicating, and striving to improve every day.  We believe in creating an inclusive work environment where everyone has a voice and is encouraged to realize their fullest potential. 

SPX is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to making selection decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.