Operations Manager

Operations Manager – Metal Fabrication & Machining

Location: West Branch, IA | Full-Time | Day Shift (7 AM – 3:30 PM)Benefits: Health Insurance, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, SIMPLE IRA with Matching

At Newport Industries, our EPIC core values — Excellence, Partnership, Innovative, and Customer-Centric — guide everything we do. As our Operations Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our welding, fabrication, production and machining operations, ensuring projects run smoothly from planning through delivery.

This role is about more than managing schedules — it’s about leading with Excellence, building strong Partnerships within the team and with customers, driving Innovative process improvements, and keeping a Customer-Centric mindset so every project meets or exceeds expectations. You’ll combine hands-on shop experience with strong leadership to keep our facility productive, organized, and high-performing.

What You’ll Do

- Lead & Organize the Shop – Oversee daily production schedules, assign work, and make sure deadlines are met without compromising quality.

- Keep Jobs on Track – Coordinate with estimators and upper management to manage job flow from start to finish.

- Hold the Team Accountable – Provide direction, conduct regular check-ins, and keep employees focused on the right priorities.

- Maintain Equipment & Facility – Oversee preventative maintenance schedule, coordinate with Facilities Maintenance Technician to reduce downtime and keep the shop in top shape.

- Drive Quality Control – Inspect work at multiple stages to ensure projects meet or exceed customer expectations.

- Optimize Workflow – Keep the shop organized, track materials and consumables, and streamline processes for efficiency.

- Be Hands-On When Needed – Step in to help with receiving, prep, or assembly when workload demands it.

Must-Have Experience & Skills

- Fabrication or machining background — able to read blueprints, understand layout, welding, finishing, and assembly.

- Ability to manage people in a production environment, including holding staff accountable.

- Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, email, spreadsheets).

- Ability to operate forklifts/skid steers (or willing to learn).

- Able to lift/move up to 50–100 lbs as needed.

Preferred (but not required)

- Welding and/or machining certifications

- Familiarity with OSHA standards, 5S, or Lean manufacturing

- Certified Weld Inspector credentials

What Success Looks Like in 12 Months

- Jobs consistently delivered on time and to quality standards.

- Reduced downtime through strong preventative maintenance.

- Improved shop organization and employee accountability.

- Strong communication flow between shop floor and management.

Living Our EPIC Core Values

- Excellence: Leading by example and holding the team to the highest quality and safety standards.

- Partnership: Collaborating across departments and with customers to ensure alignment on goals and deliverables.

- Innovative: Identifying and implementing process improvements that make the shop more efficient and productive.

- Customer-Centric: Ensuring every job meets or exceeds customer expectations for quality, timeliness, and value.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- 401(k) matching

- Health insurance

- Paid time off

Work Location: In person