Operations Supervisor

The Operations Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of our Netherlands facility, including production, shipping, kitting, and quality control (QC), with limited oversight of accounting-related and inventory activities.

This role is responsible for ensuring that daily operations run efficiently, employees have the direction and resources they need, orders move through the facility according to established priorities, and quality standards are consistently maintained.

Working closely with the Plant Operations Manager and Director of Operations in Chicago, this person will serve as the primary on-site operational liaison, ensuring alignment between the Netherlands facility and the broader company. This includes communicating operational updates, addressing challenges, implementing company processes, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, organized, and dependable leader who enjoys working alongside a team, solving problems, and balancing hands-on operational responsibilities with team supervision and process management.

Daily Operations & Workflow Management

• Oversee daily activities across production, shipping, kitting, and quality control.
• Coordinate workflow across teams to ensure orders progress efficiently and meet established deadlines.
• Work closely with the Plant Operations Manager to understand production demands, order priorities, deadlines, and weekly production schedules.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date production boards, Trello cards, and other operational tracking systems.
• Monitor workloads, identify bottlenecks, and allocate resources appropriately.
• Identify operational challenges, implement corrective actions, and escalate issues requiring additional support or leadership decisions.
• Maintain visibility into order progress and ensure teams are aligned on daily priorities.
• Remain hands-on with operations as needed to support productivity and resolve challenges.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Provide daily leadership, direction, and support to employees across production, shipping, and QC.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity, quality, attendance, communication, and teamwork.
• Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback, coaching, and guidance.
• Coordinate employee schedules, workload distribution, and break coverage.
• Support onboarding, cross-training, and ongoing employee development.
• Identify training needs and performance gaps and communicate significant concerns to the Plant Operations Manager.
• Promote a positive, collaborative, and accountable work environment.
• Encourage employee engagement, open communication, and professional development.

Production Oversight

• Oversee production workflow to ensure orders are completed according to established priorities, specifications, and deadlines.
• Ensure materials, tools, and supplies are available to support production schedules.
• Learn and develop working knowledge of all production machinery to provide operational support, assist employees, and troubleshoot routine issues when needed.
• Monitor production output, scrap, rework, and waste.
• Track raw material consumption and maintain appropriate floor inventory.
• Coordinate order picking and material availability.
• Oversee equipment upkeep, routine maintenance, and reporting of equipment issues.
• Maintain organized production workspaces, machinery, tools, and supplies.
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency and reduce waste.

Shipping & Kitting Oversight

• Oversee daily shipping and kitting activities to ensure orders are prepared accurately and dispatched on schedule.
• Ensure shipping priorities align with order deadlines and operational needs.
• Monitor order preparation, packaging, shipping documentation, and fulfillment accuracy.
• Coordinate with production and QC to ensure orders are approved and ready before shipment.
• Develop expert working knowledge of the company's shipping system and ensure it is used accurately and consistently.
• Maintain adequate shipping and packaging supplies.
• Identify recurring shipping errors and implement corrective actions.
• Communicate shipping delays and fulfillment concerns to the Chicago team.
• Ensure shipping and kitting procedures are documented and consistently followed.

Quality Control & Process Documentation

• Oversee quality control processes to ensure finished products meet company standards and customer specifications.
• Monitor defects, rejection rates, and recurring quality concerns.
• Identify root causes of quality issues and coordinate corrective actions.
• Ensure quality concerns are addressed before orders are shipped.
• Develop, maintain, and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) across production, shipping, and QC.
• Ensure employees understand and consistently follow established procedures.
• Track operational performance and identify trends affecting quality, efficiency, costs, and delivery timelines.
• Communicate process improvements and ensure changes are implemented through appropriate training.

Communication & Collaboration with Chicago

• Serve as the primary on-site operational liaison between the Netherlands facility and the Plant Operations Manager and Director of Operations in Chicago.
• Provide regular updates regarding production, shipping, quality, staffing, and facility operations.
• Communicate operational challenges, delays, and resource needs proactively.
• Ensure company priorities, procedures, and process changes communicated by Chicago leadership are understood and implemented locally.
• Participate in scheduled operational meetings and provide updates on facility performance and improvement initiatives.
• Follow through on action items and commitments established with Chicago leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve communication and consistency between the two facilities.

Facilities, Inventory & Administrative Oversight

• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional facility across production, shipping, storage, and shared workspaces.
• Monitor equipment, tools, supplies, and general facility maintenance needs.
• Reinforce safe working practices and applicable workplace safety requirements.
• Monitor operational inventory and communicate supply needs before shortages affect workflow.
• Provide limited oversight and coordination of accounting-related administrative and inventory activities, ensuring information is accurate and communicated to the appropriate team members.
• Identify potential safety hazards and facility concerns and take appropriate action.
• Support general facility responsibilities as needed to maintain efficient daily operations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience in production, manufacturing, warehouse, fulfillment, or operations management.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, lead, and coordinate a team.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality and accuracy.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to implement practical solutions.
• Experience coordinating workflows across multiple operational functions.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills (C1/C2 proficiency) to collaborate effectively with the Chicago team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Ability to communicate operational information clearly and proactively with employees and leadership.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with remote leadership.
• Experience with process documentation, SOP development, and employee training.
• A continuous improvement mindset and willingness to learn new systems, processes, and equipment.

What Success Looks Like

The successful Operations Supervisor will create a well-organized, efficient, and accountable facility where:

• Production, shipping, and QC teams understand their priorities and responsibilities.
• Orders move through the facility efficiently and meet established quality and delivery expectations.
• Employees receive consistent leadership, guidance, and training.
• Operational issues are identified and addressed proactively.
• Processes are documented, followed, and continuously improved.
• Chicago leadership has clear visibility into the Netherlands facility's performance and operational needs.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys leading people, improving processes, and taking ownership of daily operations within a growing international organization.