Operations Manager

ABOUT GREYSTONE OF VIRGINIA

Greystone of Virginia, located in Toano, VA — just minutes from Colonial Williamsburg and the greater Hampton Roads area — is a world-class, ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certified high-volume plating and finishing facility specializing in products with tight tolerances. The plant serves automotive, defense, firearms, and medical customers, and is part of Greystone, Inc., a global contract manufacturer with over 92 years of finishing expertise and operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Core processes at the Virginia plant include Precision Plating System® (PPS®) selective plating, Hard Chrome, Type II and Type III Hardcoat Anodizing (including proprietary Greystone Defense Brown®), abrasive blasting, dry film lubrication, and laser engraving. The plant recently added ITAR-controlled precision machining as a growing complement to its finishing capabilities.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Operations Manager is an entry-level management role designed for early-career engineers who want genuine, broad ownership from day one. The PLM has end-to-end accountability for a dedicated production line — which may encompass electroplating, anodizing, secondary finishing operations, or ITAR-controlled machining — from receipt of customer order through final inspection, packaging, and shipment. Equally important, the PLM is the primary point of contact for the customer(s) assigned to their line, responsible for building strong relationships and consistently delivering on Greystone’s commitments to quality, speed, and cost. This is a high-visibility role with a clear path to senior operations and plant leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operations & Production

• Direct day-to-day production on an assigned line — which may include electroplating (hard chrome), anodizing (Type II/III, Greystone Defense Brown®), secondary operations, or ITAR machining — to meet output, quality, and delivery goals.

• Develop and manage daily and weekly production schedules; coordinate with maintenance, chemistry, scheduling, and support functions to protect delivery commitments and minimize downtime.

• Monitor and report line performance metrics — OEE, cycle time, scrap/rework rate, on-time delivery — to the Plant Manager on a daily basis.

• Lead structured troubleshooting on process, chemistry, and equipment issues; implement and verify corrective actions using disciplined problem-solving methods.

• Drive continuous improvement through Lean, 5S, and Kaizen initiatives to improve yield, reduce scrap, and lower cost on your line.

• Manage line-level labor assignments, overtime, tooling, and consumable usage to established budgets.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all activities conform to Greystone’s quality system and applicable certifications: IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, NADCAP AC7004/AC7108/4.

• Maintain accurate process documentation: control plans, FMEAs, work instructions, inspection records, and traceability records in compliance with customer, Mil-Spec, and ITAR requirements as applicable.

• Lead layered process audits, SPC monitoring, and daily quality checks; own root cause and corrective action (RCCA) for non-conformances on your line, including customer-facing 8D responses.

• Ensure tight tolerance plating specifications are met consistently; leverage Precision Plating System® (PPS®) capabilities to maintain Cpk targets on selective plating applications.

• For lines involving ITAR-controlled machining or defense finishing: ensure strict compliance with export control regulations for controlled parts and technical data; escalate potential violations immediately.

• Enforce safety procedures and environmental compliance, including proper handling and documentation of plating chemistry (chromic acid, nickel, zinc, phosphate solutions) per company policy and applicable regulations.

Customer Communication & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary operational contact for customers assigned to your line — automotive OEMs and Tier 1/2 suppliers, defense primes, or firearms manufacturers — providing proactive updates on order status, schedule, and quality performance.

• Communicate promptly and clearly on scheduling changes, quality escapes, or capacity constraints; develop and present corrective action plans as the customer requires.

• Support new program launches and PPAP submissions; coordinate internally across process engineering, quality, and scheduling to meet launch milestones.

• Represent Greystone professionally in customer audits, program reviews, and on-site visits; demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of your line’s processes and quality system.

People & Team Leadership

• Supervise, coach, and develop line operators and team leads on your production line; conduct performance evaluations and address performance issues constructively and promptly.

• Lead daily start-of-shift meetings to align the team on production goals, quality priorities, safety topics, and shift handoff information.

• Coordinate with HR on recruiting, onboarding, and job-specific training for line personnel; verify operator competency before independent work on controlled processes.

• Build a line culture grounded in safety awareness, quality ownership, and continuous improvement.

Cost Management & Reporting

• Monitor and report on key line cost drivers: labor efficiency, scrap and rework cost, chemistry consumption, tooling, and overtime.

• Manage consumable and overtime spend to department budgets; provide root cause analysis for significant variances.

• Prepare and deliver regular operational performance reports for the Plant Manager and, as needed, directly to customers.

PROCESSES & TECHNOLOGIES — GREYSTONE OF VIRGINIA

Electroplating

• Hard Chrome Plating: wear and corrosion resistance for bores, annular faces, and complex geometries; specs include AMS 2406, AMS 2460, QQ-C-320, MIL-STD-1501 and others

Precision Plating System® (PPS®)

• Greystone’s proprietary selective and custom plating technology: plates discrete areas simultaneously to a precise thickness, meeting extremely tight tolerances (Cpk >2 for tolerances 10% of nominal thickness)

• Fully automated with 100% part monitoring; capable of plating multiple surfaces in a single operation

• Eliminates or reduces secondary sizing operations; scalable capital investment and fast changeover

Anodizing

• Type II Anodizing: corrosion protection and aesthetics for aluminum alloys including castings and extrusions

• Type III Hardcoat Anodizing: superior wear resistance and durability; specs include MIL-A-8625, ASTM B580, AMS 2469

• Colors: clear, black, and Greystone Defense Brown® (GDB®) — Greystone’s proprietary FDE/coyote anodizing for defense and firearms applications

Secondary Operations & Finishing

• Abrasive blasting, dry film lubrication, laser engraving/paint fill

• Baking and annealing, oiling, white paint, sub-assembly and packaging/kitting

• 100% automated inspection on safety-critical components; custom in-house inspection equipment

ITAR-Controlled Precision Machining (Expanding Capability)

• CNC turning of defense and firearms components under ITAR compliance protocols

• In-process and final dimensional inspection; tooling and fixture management

• A growing complement to the plant’s core finishing operations

PLANT CERTIFICATIONS & REGISTRATIONS

The PLM is expected to understand, actively support, and uphold all standards applicable to their assigned line:

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related discipline. (Chemical or Mechanical Engineering graduates are particularly well suited to the chemistry- and process-intensive nature of this work.)

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to apply engineering principles to hands-on process challenges in a regulated, high-volume environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to engage effectively with operators, plant leadership, and external customers.

• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, quality-driven production environment.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) as required by ITAR — 22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130.

• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional off-shift support as production needs require.

Preferred

• Internship, co-op, or project experience in a manufacturing, finishing, automotive, defense, or firearms environment.

• Familiarity with electrochemistry, surface finishing, or chemical processing (relevant coursework counts).

• Exposure to Mil-Spec finishing standards: MIL-A-8625 (anodizing), AMS 2406 (hard chrome), or related specifications.

• Knowledge of quality core tools: FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, APQP.

• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, or Kaizen methodologies.

• ROTC or military service background is highly regarded.

• Basic understanding of ITAR / export control compliance requirements is a plus.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive base salary commensurate with education and relevant experience.

• Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement plan.

• Structured onboarding and mentorship pairing new engineers with experienced plant and process leadership.

• A technically rich environment: exposure to proprietary process technology (PPS®, Greystone Defense Brown®), automated inspection systems, and a broad portfolio of electroplating and anodizing processes.

• Located in Toano, VA — minutes from Colonial Williamsburg and the Historic Triangle, with easy access to the Hampton Roads metro area, Virginia Beach, and outdoor recreation. An affordable and attractive place to live.

• Real ownership and accountability from day one — not a rotation program.

• Clear career path: Product Line Manager → Senior PLM / Operations Supervisor → Operations Manager → Plant Manager.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily on the manufacturing floor with time in an associated office. The following apply:

Noise: up to 85 dB · Heat: up to 100°F (ventilated) · Cold: 40–50°F in designated areas

Atmospheric Exposures: plating chemistry (chromic acid, nickel compounds, solvents), cutting fluids, metallic particulate, and dry film lubricants depending on line assignment. All required PPE is provided and required.

POST-OFFER REQUIREMENTS

• National criminal background check and sex offender registry check

• Drug screening

• Physical examination

• Verification of U.S. Person status per ITAR (22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130)

• Additional access or security screening requirements may apply for specific defense or firearms programs

Greystone, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description is not an employment contract and is subject to change.