Operations Lead

Job Description

Who will you be working with?

L&M Radiator, Inc. is a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of MESABI cooling and heat transfer solutions that are custom-made for heavy equipment in the mining, oil, gas, construction and heavy industrial industries. The Operations Lead will be instrumental in ensuring production goals and maintaining supplier relationships on a local level for L&M product at the TTC facility in Pennsylvania. As the Operations Lead, you will work with all departments to ensure production goals are met.

How will you make a difference?

The Operations Lead is responsible for overseeing assembly and support processes at the TTC  Plant. This role ensures consistent execution of daily operations, manages scheduling with suppliers and internal staff, and champions a strong safety culture while delivering high-quality radiators that meet customer expectations and business goals.

This position plays a key role in supplier development, daily engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Operations Lead will work closely with leadership to enhance communication, drive operational consistency, and foster a culture of accountability and excellence. This position directly reports to the North American Production Manager at the Hibbing, MN facility.

What do we want to know about you?

• High school diploma or GED with a minimum of 10 years of experience in manufacturing or production leadership, with multi-shift oversight.
• Lean training and experience.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Self- motivation.

What will your typical day look like?

• Plan, coordinate, and maintain production schedules to meet delivery targets.
• Maximize production efficiency, product quality, and throughput while minimizing downtime through collaboration and innovation.
• Monitor performance with KPI’s.
• Identify and resolve production challenges related to staffing, scheduling, quality, and process improvement opportunities.
• Communicate proactively with relevant departments and suppliers regarding delays or changes to shipping schedules.
• Collaborate with site leaders and all staff to coordinate plant-wide production activities.
• Support the development and management of the annual production/operations budget.
• Enforce compliance with company policies, safety programs, and operational procedures.
• Report production performance and execute directives from Management.
• Partner with Production Engineers on process improvements and technical initiatives.
• Lead, train, evaluate, and motivate production personnel to maintain a high-performing team environment.
• Monitor and manage overtime across production teams.
• Coordinate work for fabrication suppliers and communicate growth needs.
• Ensure all work is performed safely and in accordance with safety guidelines.
• Travel domestically as needed, including occasional weekends, based on project requirements.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Leadership & Development Focus

• Supervise L&M Warehouse Personnel at the TTC facility.
• Train, evaluate, and motivate personnel; ensure appropriate staffing levels.
• Manage attendance, scheduling, discipline, and staffing needs for assigned shift.
• Maintain accurate employee time records and coordinate payroll corrections as needed.
• Provide hands-on leadership and support to the direct labor team across all shifts to drive improvements in safety, quality, and productivity.
• Champion engagement and development through consistent communication, coaching, and leadership modeling.
• Lead and support 5S process improvements, daily management initiatives, and Gemba walks.
• Collaborate with leadership to strengthen top-down and bottom-up communication and enhance the safety culture.

What about the physical demands of the job?

• Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Adaptable to production floor work and requirements.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively and handle multiple assignments simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Domestic and International travel required and could include weekend travel depending on the project.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required for Entry Level:

• Ability to lead, by example, coach supervisors and team members, and foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, and Lean principles.
• Experience in identifying root causes, analyzing data, and implementing effective solutions to improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Clear and confident communicator with the ability to engage across all levels of the organization, facilitate top-down and bottom-up communication, and deliver consistent messaging.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities across shifts, meeting deadlines, and adapting to changing business needs.
• Comfortable using production management systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Epicor and reporting tools to track performance and communicate results.
• Strong commitment to maintaining a safe work environment and delivering high-quality products that meet customer expectations.
• Works effectively with cross-functional teams including HR, Engineering, and upper management to align goals and drive results.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
• Ability to pass pre-employment physical, drug, and background test.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in industrial engineering or related field.
• Supervisor or people managing experience.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Epicor. 

You may also be asked to perform other duties outside of your function or trade, for which adequate training will be provided if necessary.

This role is also eligible for a performance bonus.

More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable) and fitness for duty test (as applicable).

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Qualifications

Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $68900-98200 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
 

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.