Knowledge Operations Manager Jobs in Tacoma, WA (NOW HIRING)

Description

Red Dot Corporation, the leading producer of premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles, is recruiting for the following position: Operations Manager, Puyallup, Washington

Summary Description:

The Operations Manager is the General Manager's direct partner in running daily plant operations at Red Dot's Puyallup facility. This is a newly created role that owns the day-to-day execution of the site - production output, supervisor leadership, workforce stability, and continuous improvement - and is directly accountable for the operational metrics that define plant performance: safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

This person is the senior floor leader. They are visible across both shifts, set the tone for accountability and culture, develop frontline supervisors, and drive measurable improvement against plant targets. Success in this role means the Puyallup facility delivers consistent, predictable performance day in and day out.

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to: General Manager, Puyallup
• Direct reports: All Production Supervisors across 1st and 2nd shift (Fabrication, Core, Assembly, Wire Shop, Injection Molding, Metal Fab, Paint, Final Assembly), and the Warehouse Supervisor
• Partners closely with: Director of Quality, Director of Manufacturing Engineering / Maintenance / Lean, Engineering, Program Management, Finance, HR Manager, and the Memphis sister-plant leadership team

Requirements

Job Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Daily Operational Leadership

• Own daily production execution across both shifts - safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets on a daily, weekly, and monthly cadence
• Lead daily tier meetings and SQDC reviews; escalate blockers and drive rapid resolution
• Maintain regular, visible presence on 2nd shift and ensure consistent standards across shifts
• Make real-time staffing, line balancing, and prioritization decisions to protect customer commitments

People Leadership and Supervisor Development

• Coach, develop, and hold accountable production and warehouse supervisors across both shifts
• Build supervisor bench strength through structured 1:1s, performance feedback, and on-the-floor coaching
• Partner with HR to improve onboarding ramp time, and stabilize the hourly workforce
• Champion Red Dot's cultural norms and lead by example in every interaction with the team

Safety and Quality

• Own safety performance for the production floor - lead incident response, root cause investigations, and corrective actions
• Reinforce quality standards in partnership with the Director of Quality; ensure containment and corrective action in every work station
• Drive a culture where every employee is empowered and expected to stop the line for safety or quality concerns

Continuous Improvement and Lean

• Drive lean and continuous improvement initiatives on the floor in partnership with the Manufacturing Engineering / Lean team
• Lead or sponsor kaizen events, 6S, standard work, and visual management improvements
• Use data - OEE, throughput, scrap, labor efficiency - to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with the GM on workforce planning, budgeting, and capital project execution
• Collaborate with the Memphis sister plant on best-practice sharing and consistent operating standards
• Backfill the GM as needed for plant-wide decisions, customer visits, and escalations

Level Requirements (Minimum):

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field - or equivalent demonstrated experience

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including at least 3 years directly managing salaried supervisors
• Demonstrated lean manufacturing experience - not just exposure. Must be able to point to specific kaizen events led, standard work implemented, or measurable CI results delivered
• Proven track record of developing frontline supervisors and improving team performance
• Experience leading operations across multiple shifts, including direct accountability for 2nd shift performance
• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems and production data analysis
• Functional knowledge in Microsoft tools (i.e. Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) 
• Comfort with ambiguity, competing priorities, and a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in HVAC, heavy equipment, off-road, automotive, or other complex assembly manufacturing
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• Prior experience in a multi-site manufacturing organization
• Experience managing through periods of high temp labor utilization and workforce instability

Physical Requirements

This role requires regular presence on the production floor across both shifts. Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, occasionally lift up to 50 pounds, and work in a manufacturing environment that includes noise, varying temperatures, and exposure to production equipment. Reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with applicable law.

Red Dot Corporation offers the following total compensation package for this role:

Personal Time Off (PTO)

Average of 14 paid holidays per year.

Employer-sponsored PPO Medical Plans, with employer-subsidized premiums of at least 70% for non-tobacco users.

Employer-sponsored PPO Dental Plans, with employer-subsidized premiums of at least 70% for non-tobacco users.

Employer-sponsored Vision Plans.

Free Employee Assistance Program to all employees.

Free Benefit Advocate access for insurance benefit inquiries.

401(k) employer contribution of 3% of annual salary*, regardless of participation.

100% ESOP Company, with vesting beginning after 1,000 hours.

Employer Paid Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) premiums.

Employer-paid long-term disability insurance premiums.

Employer Paid Washington State FML payroll taxes.

Voluntary Benefits such as: Flexible Spending Accounts, Daycare Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability Insurance, etc.

Salary Grade** for this role is as follows:

Min: $110,000 / Annual

Max: $135,000 / Annual

*Subject to all local, state, and federal regulatory limits

** Salary grade levels and placement are all based on several factors, including but not limited to: applicable experience, education, skill set, and market.

Red Dot is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.