Head of Operations
2 days ago
Carson
Job Description: Head of Operations – Carson Facility Location: Carson, CA Department: Operations Reports To: VP & COO Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt About Us Woojin IS America, Inc. (WISA), headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, CA, is a fast-growing manufacturer specializing in electric equipment for rolling stock and light rail vehicles. We proudly serve North American customers with advanced technologies that deliver safe, reliable, and long-lasting transportation equipment. About the Role Woojin IS America (WISA) is seeking an experienced and driven Head of Carson Operations to lead our railcar production facility in Carson, California. This position plays a critical role in overseeing all operational activities — including safety, production, quality, and employee development — to ensure our manufacturing teams deliver high-quality rail vehicle components that meet customer expectations and project commitments. As the Head of Operations, you’ll lead a talented production team, manage day-to-day plant operations, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, safety, and performance. This is a hands-on leadership role suited for an operations professional with strong organizational, technical, and people management skills who thrive in a dynamic, project-based manufacturing environment. Key Responsibilities Operational Management • Plan, organize, and direct daily production activities for railcar refurbishment, overhaul, and modification projects, ensuring adherence to project scope and technical requirements., • Establish and monitor production priorities, schedules, and workflow based on project plans, including structural repairs, interior upgrades, electrical systems rework, HVAC, door systems, and other railcar subsystems., • Ensure all refurbishment tasks follow approved procedures, engineering documentation, and industry standards specific to passenger rail vehicles., • Review production performance versus established KPIs (schedule, cost, quality); identify variances and implement corrective actions., • Coordinate production activities with Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Program Management to ensure proper material availability, technical clarity, and timely project execution., • Ensure all employees follow established safety procedures and that safety training is current, especially in areas specific to railcar refurbishment such as confined space entry, elevated work, electrical lockout/tagout, welding, and hot work., • Oversee quality assurance and ensure compliance with rail industry standards such as APTA, FRA, and customer-specific requirements., • Monitor and verify that all work on railcars — including structural welding, interior installations, component replacements, wiring, and mechanical adjustments — meets specifications and approved inspection points., • Supervise, train, and develop production supervisors, leads, and employees performing railcar rebuild and refurbishment activities., • Provide coaching and performance feedback to ensure individual and team development., • Conduct regular employee evaluations in partnership with HR to assess performance, identify strengths, and address areas for improvement., • Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and teamwork across all levels of the production organization., • Track productivity, schedule adherence, and budget performance for each railcar project or unit; develop improvement plans where targets are not met., • Approve weekly labor hours and ensure accurate allocation of costs to each railcar or project phase., • Evaluate labor hours per unit versus budget; implement corrective actions as necessary., • Lead continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing cycle times, improving workflow in railcar bays, and optimizing refurbishment processes., • Oversee Maintenance department to ensure equipment reliability, including heavy tooling, lifting equipment, cranes, jigs, and railcar-specific fixtures., • Ensure employees have the proper tools, PPE, materials, and equipment required for safe and effective refurbishment of railcars., • Manage production resources and expenses within established budgets; request additional resources when justified., • Directly supervises production supervisors and team leads., • Indirectly manages all production employees assigned to refurbishment and overhaul of railcars., • Minimum 10 years of supervisory or management experience in manufacturing, railcar refurbishment, heavy equipment repair, or related fields., • Experience overseeing railcar overhaul, midlife refurbishment, or new rail vehicle assembly (LRV, Metro, Commuter, Intercity, or APM sectors) strongly preferred., • Strong understanding of railcar systems (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, structural, interior components, propulsion, HVAC, and doors)., • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Industrial Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered., • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP/manufacturing software., • Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale refurbishment or re-manufacturing projects, including budgets and schedules., • Achievement of railcar refurbishment schedules and customer delivery commitments., • Compliance with safety and quality standards specific to rail industry requirements., • Performance within budgeted labor and material costs., • Employee engagement, development, and retention., • On-site position at the Carson facility., • Frequent work on or around railcars, including shop, yard, pits, and platforms., • Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience., • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance., • Paid time off, holidays and retirement plan., • Opportunity to lead a key facility in a growing, innovative rail manufacturing company., • Collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.