Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois
Manufacturing Operations Manager jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in automotive supply chain, food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and heavy industrial equipment production, with openings at every level from floor-level supervisor to senior plant director. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria are the largest hiring metros, anchored by established employers such as Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, and Illinois Tool Works. Lean operations, continuous improvement, and supply chain optimization are the most sought-after specialties across Illinois listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Manufacturing Operations Manager jobs
Are you ready to elevate your career? At IPG, we are more than just a global leader in packaging and protective solutions—we are a community that values safety, people, passion, integrity, performance, and teamwork. From tapes and films to packaging and protective products, as well as engineered coated materials and advanced packaging machinery, we develop innovative solutions that protect the world. Now, we are expanding our global team and looking for talented individuals like you!
Regional Operations Manager – Protective Packaging
Location: Chicago, IL
Oversight: Chicago IL, Toronto, ON, Carlstadt, NJ
About the Role
IPG is seeking a results-driven Regional Operations Manager to lead operations across a portion of our Protective Packaging division. This role will provide strategic and operational leadership across three manufacturing sites and drive performance through strong safety practices, disciplined processes, and continuous improvement.
This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for aligning regional operations with business objectives while fostering a culture of safety, efficiency, and accountability.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and execute regional strategy to achieve operational, financial, and safety objectives
- Drive productivity improvements, cost optimization, and waste reduction initiatives across all sites
- Champion world-class safety standards and ensure compliance with regulatory and company requirements
- Partner with Plant Managers and business leaders to resolve operational challenges and optimize performance
- Oversee staffing strategy, organizational effectiveness, and succession planning for the region
- Lead the implementation of standardized systems, including lean manufacturing and performance systems (e.g., IPG Performance System)
- Monitor financial performance, including P&L, and ensure alignment with budget targets
- Analyze and drive improvements using key operational metrics and KPIs
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture across all sites
- Ensure consistent execution of company policies, procedures, and operational standards
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field
- experience in a manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated experience driving operational excellence and performance systems (Lean, TPS, or similar)
- Strong background in safety leadership and process discipline
- Experience leading multi-site operations and geographically dispersed teams
- Proven ability to influence leaders, develop teams, and drive accountability
- Strong financial acumen, including P&L management
- Experience in unionized environments is a plus
- You bring operational rigor from organizations known for best-in-class safety and disciplined processes
- You are a strategic thinker who can translate vision into execution across multiple sites
- You thrive in complex environments and excel at aligning teams toward common goals
- You are comfortable challenging the status quo and driving measurable change
At IPG, you will find more than just a job—you will find a place where your success is our success. We pride ourselves on a culture built around strong relationships, where every team member plays a crucial role in our growth. Whether it is through cross-department collaboration, continuous training, or sustainability-driven initiatives, we create an environment where you can thrive.
Our commitment to sustainability influences everything we do, from designing eco-friendly products to minimizing waste in our production processes. We are dedicated to building a greener future while providing safe, supportive workplaces for our people.
With over 40 years of industry expertise and a proven track record of growth and innovation, IPG offers a stable, secure environment where you can flourish!
We offer competitive pay, extensive benefits that support you and your family, and exciting career development opportunities. Whether you are looking to enhance your skills or advance your career, we offer ongoing training and the support you need to succeed. Think big, dream bigger, and make an impact with IPG.
You belong here. Join us today!
Are you ready to elevate your career? At IPG, we are more than just a global leader in packaging and protective solutions—we are a community that values safety, people, passion, integrity, performance, and teamwork. From tapes and films to packaging and protective products, as well as engineered coated materials and advanced packaging machinery, we develop innovative solutions that protect the world. Now, we are expanding our global team and looking for talented individuals like you!
Regional Operations Manager – Protective Packaging
Location: Chicago, IL
Oversight: Chicago IL, Toronto, ON, Carlstadt, NJ
About the Role
IPG is seeking a results-driven Regional Operations Manager to lead operations across a portion of our Protective Packaging division. This role will provide strategic and operational leadership across three manufacturing sites and drive performance through strong safety practices, disciplined processes, and continuous improvement.
This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for aligning regional operations with business objectives while fostering a culture of safety, efficiency, and accountability.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and execute regional strategy to achieve operational, financial, and safety objectives
- Drive productivity improvements, cost optimization, and waste reduction initiatives across all sites
- Champion world-class safety standards and ensure compliance with regulatory and company requirements
- Partner with Plant Managers and business leaders to resolve operational challenges and optimize performance
- Oversee staffing strategy, organizational effectiveness, and succession planning for the region
- Lead the implementation of standardized systems, including lean manufacturing and performance systems (e.g., IPG Performance System)
- Monitor financial performance, including P&L, and ensure alignment with budget targets
- Analyze and drive improvements using key operational metrics and KPIs
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture across all sites
- Ensure consistent execution of company policies, procedures, and operational standards
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field
- experience in a manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated experience driving operational excellence and performance systems (Lean, TPS, or similar)
- Strong background in safety leadership and process discipline
- Experience leading multi-site operations and geographically dispersed teams
- Proven ability to influence leaders, develop teams, and drive accountability
- Strong financial acumen, including P&L management
- Experience in unionized environments is a plus
- You bring operational rigor from organizations known for best-in-class safety and disciplined processes
- You are a strategic thinker who can translate vision into execution across multiple sites
- You thrive in complex environments and excel at aligning teams toward common goals
- You are comfortable challenging the status quo and driving measurable change
At IPG, you will find more than just a job—you will find a place where your success is our success. We pride ourselves on a culture built around strong relationships, where every team member plays a crucial role in our growth. Whether it is through cross-department collaboration, continuous training, or sustainability-driven initiatives, we create an environment where you can thrive.
Our commitment to sustainability influences everything we do, from designing eco-friendly products to minimizing waste in our production processes. We are dedicated to building a greener future while providing safe, supportive workplaces for our people.
With over 40 years of industry expertise and a proven track record of growth and innovation, IPG offers a stable, secure environment where you can flourish!
We offer competitive pay, extensive benefits that support you and your family, and exciting career development opportunities. Whether you are looking to enhance your skills or advance your career, we offer ongoing training and the support you need to succeed. Think big, dream bigger, and make an impact with IPG.
You belong here. Join us today!
See All 12 Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsManufacturing Operations Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Manufacturing Operations Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in manufacturing operations manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, operations management, or a related manufacturing discipline
- Proven experience managing production teams and meeting throughput targets in a regulated facility
- Demonstrated lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodology application, with Green Belt or Black Belt preferred
- Familiarity with Illinois OSHA standards and EPA compliance requirements for industrial facilities
- Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle to manage scheduling, inventory, and reporting
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills coordinating quality, maintenance, and supply chain teams
Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a manufacturing operations manager in Illinois?
Most Illinois employers require a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, operations management, manufacturing technology, or a closely related field. Illinois does not issue a state license specific to manufacturing operations managers, so advancement depends on building hands-on floor experience, earning a lean or Six Sigma credential, and demonstrating P&L or production accountability. Many Illinois manufacturers also value candidates who have completed a Certified Manufacturing Technologist or Certified Manager of Quality credential through recognized professional bodies.
How much do manufacturing operations managers make in Illinois?
Manufacturing operations managers in Illinois earn a median of about $127,270 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $82,900 for the lowest 10% to over $205,310 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire manufacturing operations managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring manufacturing operations managers in Illinois right now include Dewolff, Boberg & Associates, EY, and IPG, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of food processing, pharmaceutical, and heavy industrial manufacturers means openings appear consistently across both large Fortune 500 headquarters and mid-size regional plants throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most manufacturing operations manager jobs?
Chicago, Aurora, and Harvey have the most manufacturing operations manager openings in Illinois right now. Chicago dominates because of its freight infrastructure and the headquarters of major industrial and consumer goods companies, while Rockford draws openings from its aerospace and fastener manufacturing base and Peoria from Caterpillar's global operations and its dense tier-one supplier network.
Are there remote manufacturing operations manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of manufacturing operations manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how plant-floor accountability makes full remote impractical for most of the role. The portions most likely to be performed remotely are corporate-level continuous improvement projects, multi-site performance reporting, and supply chain coordination roles that sit above direct production management.
How can I get hired as a manufacturing operations manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a production supervisor or shift lead role at one of Illinois's large food, pharmaceutical, or industrial manufacturers, many of whom run structured rotational or management trainee programs for candidates with a relevant degree but limited experience. Companies like Kraft Heinz in Chicago and Caterpillar in Peoria hire associates through formal development tracks. Building a Lean Yellow Belt credential and targeting quality technician or industrial engineer roles first provides a clear lateral move into operations management within two to three years.
Where can I find and apply to manufacturing operations manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to manufacturing operations manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and location, and apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 12 Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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