Position Summary
The Operations Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and day-to-day operations of the hydraulic repair shop. This role ensures safe, efficient, high-quality, and profitable repair of hydraulic components (pumps, motors, cylinders, hoses, and related systems). The manager leads the shop team, drives on-time delivery and customer satisfaction, controls costs and inventory, enforces quality and safety standards, continuously improves processes, and assists with front counter retail sales to support business growth.
Key Responsibilities
Operations & Workflow Management
- Plan, schedule, prioritize, and coordinate all repair activities to meet customer deadlines and maximize shop capacity.
- Oversee the full repair process: receiving, teardown/inspection, quoting, repair/rebuild, testing, quality checks, and shipping.
- Establish and monitor production methods, workflow standards, and KPIs (turnaround time, on-time delivery, rework rates, utilization, profitability).
- Identify bottlenecks and implement process improvements to reduce cycle times and costs while maintaining quality.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, train, and develop hydraulic repair technicians, machinists, salesman, and front office staff.
- Set clear expectations, conduct performance reviews, manage merit increases, and handle hiring, onboarding, and disciplinary actions as needed.
- Foster a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Create and maintain training plans to build technical skills.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure all repairs meet or exceed company, customer, and industry standards.
- Oversee the shop safety program, enforce PPE and safe work practices, and maintain OSHA (or equivalent) compliance.
- Drive root-cause analysis on quality issues and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain accurate documentation, work orders, and records.
Inventory, Cost Control & Financial Performance
- Manage parts, supplies, and consumables inventory; work with purchasing to maintain optimal stock levels of critical hydraulic components.
- Control labor, material, and overhead costs; support or own shop-level P&L targets.
- Review job costing for accuracy and profitability; take action on discrepancies.
- Coordinate with outside vendors for specialized services or parts when needed.
Customer Service & Retail Support
- Assist with front counter retail sales, including customer inquiries, order processing, product recommendations, and sales of hydraulic parts and related items.
- Serve as a key contact for customer communications regarding job status, technical issues, and dispute resolution.
- Collaborate with sales and front office staff to support quoting accuracy and service-level commitments.
- Align shop capacity with sales opportunities and business objectives.
Continuous Improvement
- Drive continuous-improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and lower costs.
- Review and refine shop policies, procedures, and standard operating practices.
Qualifications
Required
- Basic knowledge of hydraulics and fluid power systems.
- 2–5+ years of supervisory or leadership experience (shop lead, foreman, or operations role) with the ability to grow into broader responsibilities.
- Proven ability to manage schedules, prioritize work, and meet delivery commitments in a fast-paced repair environment.
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience with inventory management, basic cost control, and performance metrics.
- Comfort and willingness to assist with front counter retail sales and customer-facing interactions.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Preferred
- Prior experience in a repair shop, industrial service, or similar operations environment.
- Bachelor’s degree a plus.
- Experience with continuous improvement tools or shop management software.
- Prior P&L or budget responsibility in a service/repair environment.
- Familiarity with quality systems (ISO or equivalent).
- Bilingual is preferred, not required.
Key Competencies
- Leadership and people development
- Operational and process discipline
- Customer focus and service orientation (including retail sales support)
- Safety-first mindset
- Analytical and decision-making ability
- Adaptability in a deadline-driven environment
Physical & Work Environment Demands
- Work primarily in a shop/warehouse environment with exposure to noise, oils, solvents, and machinery, plus front-counter customer interactions.
- Ability to stand/walk for extended periods, lift up to 50 lbs occasionally, and work around industrial equipment.
- May require occasional customer site visits or after-hours support for urgent repairs.
Reporting Structure
Reports to: Owner
Direct reports: Shop technicians, machinists, salesman, and front office staff
Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
