Operations Manager
Date: Sep 9, 2026
Location: South Bend, IN, US
Company: Tenneco
At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values – radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win – or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.
With a product portfolio as expansive as it is innovative, an obsessive commitment to quality and excellence, and a global presence, we’re all about getting stuff done, so we can win.
How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.
Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.
Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way
The Operations Manager position directs and supervises the department through production staff ensuring quality (internally and externally) products, health and safety, and cost efficiencies. This position is also responsible for contributing to a safe workplace and minimizing negative impacts by complying with the EHS policies, procedures, work instructions outlined in the EHSMS Training Assessment for this position.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Directs and supervises production team, production supervision, and manufacturing engineering providing technical assistance and guidance in their respective areas of responsibility.
- Serves as a liaison with other Tenneco companies regarding techniques and technology.
- Attends management planning and analysis meetings and participates in policy making decisions.
- Trains and motivates production and engineering team members and staff personnel.
- Prepares budget for capital planning for equipment purchases in production areas.
- Responsible for the development of engineers and other departmental staff.
- Assists in the preparation of the annual budget.
- Ensures that machining, inspection, and post end of line functions adhere to quality standards, techniques, and processes and is responsible of proper troubleshooting and improvement if standards are not met.
GENERAL DUTIES:
SAFETY EXPECTATIONS:
- Promotes and actively supports a safety-first workplace culture, identifies and reports unsafe conditions, and stops work when necessary to ensure safety.
- All team members abide by the location’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) policy which is enforced by the local leadership, complies with the legal and other requirements and operational controls established under its EHSMS, works towards achieving established objectives and targets, and conforms to procedures consistent with the ISO 14001 standard.
- All team members will understand all the environmental aspects of his/her job. An employee should report, and if necessary, stop any activity that does not conform to the policy or may injure himself/herself.
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:
- Identifies and addresses non-conforming work, materials, or procedures within a timely manner
- Each team member has the authority to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of non-conformities relating to the product, process and quality system and has the authority to stop further work on non-conforming suspect product until the deficiency or conditions have been corrected.
- Takes ownership of work by demonstrating accountability for results and being honest and transparent when things do not go to plan.
- Follows 5S principles by maintaining, cleaning, organizing, and improving the areas. Also, by making suggestions to get to the next level of excellence and then doing it again.
CORE EXPECTATIONS:
- Consistently meets high standards of safety, quality, integrity, and performance.
- Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
- Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
- Demonstrates a willingness to hold tough conversations with others while seeking first to understand, speaking with respect, and with the purpose of making things better.
- Supports the leadership team as needed to meet the plant and business unit objectives.
- All other duties as assigned
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business administration
EXPERIENCE:
• Five (5) years experience in manufacturing and/or engineering with two (2) years managerial experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.• Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrates leadership ability, conflict resolution and problem solving.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate with all levels of management and hourly employees.
• Work requires ability to delegate assignments, supervise and train employees in order to meet deadlines.
• Good interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, are necessary to supervise employees in a fair and consistent manner.
• Must be able to counsel, guide and evaluate the work of others in a manner that motivates the achievement of company goals.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Must be willing to travel.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Must be able to lift, push, and/or pull up to 60 pounds occasionally.
• On a continuous basis must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to make occasional trips to manufacturing sites and customers by air and by automobile. Duration from one to four days.
• Able to be on call 24/7 for customer and manufacturing sites.
• Able and willing to work around fuel mixtures, moving parts, and electrical power.
Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities
Nearest Major Market: South Bend