Manufacturing Operations Manager

At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive. Position Purpose The Operations Manager provides overall leadership and accountability for the execution of the manufacturing operating plan, ensuring the safety of employees while delivering high-quality products to customers in accordance with service, cost, and business expectations. Provides leadership to manufacturing management and support functions to ensure the organization has the people, processes, equipment, materials, capacity, and capabilities required to support current and future business needs. Leads the organization in achieving production, quality, delivery, cost, workforce, and capacity objectives while ensuring products meet established specifications and quality standards. Key Responsibilities Operations Leadership & Execution Assume overall responsibility for execution of the manufacturing operating plan, while working with peers in product development, engineering, production planning and scheduling as well as external manufacturing resources. Establish operating priorities and ensure appropriate alignment of staffing, materials, equipment, capacity, outside contracting, and facility requirements. Provide leadership and direction to manufacturing assistant managers and functional support teams in resolving operational issues and meeting business objectives. Identify internal and external risks that could impede achievement of the manufacturing business plan and develop appropriate mitigation and corrective-action plans. People Leadership & Organizational Development Create a motivating, accountable, and performance-focused manufacturing environment. Regularly evaluate staffing levels, leadership capacity, and job responsibilities to ensure the organization is positioned to achieve its objectives. Provide input for workforce planning and succession planning for critical manufacturing positions. Make or approve employment decisions regarding hiring, promotions, transfers, development actions, and terminations within established company practices. Establish clear performance expectations for direct reports and ensure effective performance management practices are consistently applied throughout the organization. Coach and develop leaders through challenging assignments, direct feedback, training, career discussions, and development planning. Build leadership capability throughout the organization, particularly within frontline and operations leadership. Promote effective communication, teamwork, accountability, and employee engagement across manufacturing operations. Ensure consistent and equitable application of company policies, compensation practices, and employment procedures. Partner with Human Resources to address complex employee and organizational issues. Safety Assume overall operational responsibility for manufacturing safety performance and the development of a strong safety culture. Ensure compliance with applicable safety requirements, including OSHA/VPP regulations and company policies. Integrate safety considerations into production processes, equipment decisions, facility changes, training, staffing, and daily operating practices. Production, Quality & Customer Service Ensure manufacturing operations consistently deliver products that meet established product specifications and quality standards. Maintain production capacity and schedules necessary to support customer demand, inventory requirements, and service expectations. Financial & Business Management Assume responsibility for controlling manufacturing operating costs and achieving established financial objectives. Develop and manage annual manufacturing operating and capital budgets. Monitor financial and operational performance and take corrective action when performance deviates from business plans. Identify opportunities to improve utilization of manufacturing assets and capabilities, including appropriate third-party programs or external business opportunities that can help offset periods of lower internal production demand. Manufacturing Strategy & Business Planning Assist in developing and recommending the overall strategic direction of the manufacturing organization. Translate manufacturing strategy into annual and multi-year operating priorities, resource requirements, and measurable objectives. Evaluate manufacturing capabilities, capacity, technologies, workforce requirements, and external manufacturing alternatives when developing future operating strategies. Identify opportunities to improve flexibility, productivity, quality, cost competitiveness, and responsiveness to changing business requirements. Provide operational input into decisions involving capacity expansion, new capabilities, and manufacturing footprint. Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Establish a culture of continuous improvement across manufacturing operations. Lead efforts to improve productivity, quality, throughput, labor utilization, cost, material flow, equipment effectiveness, and operational reliability. Ensure root-cause problem solving and corrective-action processes are used to address recurring operational issues. Encourage leaders and employees to identify and implement improvements to processes, equipment, work methods, and workplace organization. Use operational performance information to identify trends, prioritize improvement opportunities, and drive accountability. External Manufacturing & Business Partners Evaluate external capacity as part of the overall manufacturing capacity and business planning process. Coordinate internal and exter