Acara Solutions is looking for an
Operations Manager for our client located in Niagara Falls, NY.
- Direct Placement role
- $100-$125k annually based on experience
- Onsite Monday-Friday standard business hours
Position Overview
This position is based in Niagara Falls, NY. The Operations Manager will be responsible for leading day-to-day production, inventory, supply chain, shipping, and operational execution in support of Client's defense and energy programs. This role will ensure that facilities, furnaces, and teams are optimized to deliver advanced carbon and graphite solutions that meet stringent defense, aerospace, and energy requirements.
This position requires a leader with strong operational and technical expertise, proven capability in scaling manufacturing, and the ability to unify operations across production, engineering support, and quality assurance. The Operations Manager will also play a key role in driving modernization initiatives, enhancing throughput, and ensuring that the company meets its commitments under the Golden Dome program and related defense and energy contracts.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead daily operations across production, supply chain, inventory management, and shipping, to meet delivery schedules and program milestones.
- Plan and track daily production orders through the plant to meet customer expectations and on-time delivery.
- Partner with Planning, Customer Service, and Commercial teams to align production schedules, contractual obligations, and customer deliveries.
- Collaborate with Engineering and R&D teams to translate customer and program requirements into manufacturable solutions.
- Oversee 20+ industrial furnaces and high-temperature processing systems, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operation.
- Implement and manage operational metrics (KPIs) around throughput, yield, on-time delivery, and cost efficiency.
- Drive facility modernization and capacity expansion to support defense and energy contract requirements.
- Lead workforce planning, training, and development to build a skilled, mission-ready operations team.
- Ensure compliance with ITAR, DFARS, OSHA, and other applicable defense and manufacturing regulations.
- Manage budgets and capital expenditures for operations, equipment upgrades, and capacity expansions.
- Develop strong vendor and supply chain relationships to ensure material availability and cost stability.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement in safety, quality, and efficiency.
Required Skills / Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Materials Science, or related field required; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
- 7 + years of manufacturing operations, ideally in aerospace, defense, or advanced energy industries.
Preferred Skills / Qualifications:
- Proven track record overseeing complex, high-compliance manufacturing environments.
- Strong technical understanding of high-temperature materials, carbon fiber composites, graphite, ceramics, or industrial furnace operations.
- Experience scaling production capacity while maintaining rigorous quality and compliance standards.
- Demonstrated success in managing capital projects, facility upgrades, and modernization efforts.
- Excellent leadership and communication skills with ability to motivate cross-functional teams.
- Proficiency in ERP and production planning systems; Microsoft 365 expertise.
- Lean/Six Sigma or similar operational excellence training preferred.
Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.
Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.
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Aleron
Oct 30, 2025