Operations Manager - Plastic Toys & Plastic Injection

The challenge :

This position is responsible for leading the product development of Plastic Toys and Plastic Injection Moulded Products from inception to delivery. This position interfaces with both internal teams and external contacts (e.g. vendors, manufacturers, designers, etc.) to ensure a clear understanding of our product requirements and to keep production on time and within budget.

The perfect candidate :

- Strong project management experience in plastics. Preferably in the toy industry

- PMP Certification desired

- Working knowledge in SAP

What you'll do :

- Participate in concept development meetings with Design Team. Identify opportunities for the external Design Team to use and proactively communicate ideas to them.

- Proactively identify areas and items that need research (e.g. new material, new processes, etc.) as company learns of new business opportunities. Anticipate company needs in order to ensure we are positioned to meet customer needs. Complete research needed, and communicate timely to external and internal team members.

- Act as the "bridge" between Design Teams and Factories to produce.

- Source and review resources available and make recommendation to Head of Production (e.g. factories, vendors, etc.)

- Work directly with factories to identify the best materials and processes to fit within the product specifications, produce the best quality product, and meet COG targets. Build and recommend product options, including details regarding materials, technology, printing, etc.

- Receive and answer questions and requests from Design Teams for information and advice.

- Adhere to product production timelines and schedules set by Management.

- Create Specifications Documents ("spec doc") based on Bill of Materials (BOM) produced by the external Design Team. Add in appropriate details as needed (e.g. material types).

- Identify appropriate factories (outside vendors) and send Spec Doc to them for COGs quoting.

- Receive quotes back from factories and evaluate. Ask and answer questions to ensure factories are on the correct track to produce a final quote. Compare factory information to company target COGs numbers. Be constantly aware of company costs and negotiate accordingly to increase company margins. Make suggestions to factories for substitutions/changes. Confirm acceptability of substitutions/changes with external Design Team as needed. Revise Spec Doc and email back to factories as needed.

- Communicate final Spec Doc information and Cost Comparison to CEO for final approval of costing.

- Contact external Design Team for final files. Distribute files to awarded factory via company FTP site. Print out proofs as appropriate and mail to factory.

- Proof and approval final Technical Drawings and/or CADs if needed. Get Design Team and company thoughts/approvals, and communicate issues back to factory. Give approval to factory to start production.

- Review and approve Final Engineering Prototype (FEP).

- Give final approval for factory to start manufacturing. Copy Head of Production on approval communication.

- Receive Top of Production samples from factory and approve. Manage any running changes as the production process proceeds.

- Responsible for regularly reviewing delivery dates to ensure production timetable can support them. Notify Head of Production as needed to avoid release schedule delays.

- Participate in weekly status meetings with external Design Team. Prepare concerns/issues list prior to meeting. Share timely, relevant information during meeting.

- Participate in weekly company Production Meetings. Report on metrics and status for projects.