Operations Manager at Fotokite AG

Fotokite develops autonomous, high-endurance tethered unmanned aerial systems to help firefighters and public safety teams save lives.

Fotokite systems allow first responders to quickly and easily gain situational awareness after arriving at emergency scenes: our autonomous one-touch launch/land system makes operation simple and safe; the dual color and thermal camera payload provides situational awareness from the system’s aerial perspective; and actively tethered flight means the system can be flown without a certified pilot, and can be left flying for as long as the situation requires.

The Boulder Operations Manager is a strategic leader responsible for all site functions and the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from day-to-day excellence to long-term strategic growth. This role holds primary responsibility for the performance and oversight of both the Operations and Support teams in Boulder. A core part of this role is to plan and execute the setup of a new manufacturing site and production line. This position is vital for optimizing operations, including the management of daily production, shipping, inventory, and overseeing the assembly and testing of our products. Additionally, you will ensure the customer-facing Support team operates efficiently, delivering high-quality service and technical assistance. You will ensure all processes adhere to lean manufacturing and total quality management principles contributing to the overall quality and reliability of our products and paving the way for future company growth.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manufacturing Site and Line Development – Lead the planning, design, and execution of new manufacturing sites and production lines. This includes managing site selection, facility layout, equipment procurement, installation, and commissioning to support increased production capacity and strategic growth.
  
  
• ERP/MRP System Configuration & Management – Lead the configuration of the ERP/MRP system (Odoo) to support all new manufacturing processes and the new site. This includes managing item master data, Bills of Materials (BOMs), routings, and ensuring data integrity to support accurate planning and reporting.
  
  
• Oversee Daily Production – Ensure smooth, efficient, and timely production of products according to quality standards at the existing site.
  
  
• Team Management – Supervise Operations & Support teammates, ensuring clear roles, priorities, and performance across all manufacturing teams.
  
  
• Support Function Oversight – Lead and manage the Boulder-based Support team, ensuring efficient operations, timely resolution of customer issues, and delivery of high-quality technical assistance that reinforces customer satisfaction and product reliability.
  
  
• Production Planning & Scheduling – Coordinate workload, prioritize tasks, and maintain production schedules aligned with demand and inventory levels for both current and future production lines, leveraging the ERP/MRP system effectively.
  
  
• Quality Control – Monitor product quality, enforce standards, and lead problem-solving when defects or issues arise across all manufacturing processes.
  
  
• Process Improvement – Identify and implement lean practices to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase throughput across all manufacturing lines and within the Support team to enhance service delivery.
  
  
• Inventory & Procurement Oversight – Work closely with the procurement to manage material availability, stock levels, and supplier relationships for current production and new facility needs.
  
  
• Health & Safety Compliance – Ensure all sites follow safety rules and encourage a strong safety culture during daily operations and new facility development.
  
  
• Budget & Cost Management – Track operational costs, control expenses, and manage capital expenditures related to new production lines and sites, , as well as the operational budget for the Boulder Support function.
  
  
• Reporting & KPIs – Monitor and report on key metrics (e.g., OEE, downtime, output, scrap, SLAs, customer satisfaction), and communicate progress to senior leadership, including updates on expansion projects.
  
  
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) – Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing to seamlessly integrate new products or process changes into production on both new and existing lines, and ensure the Support team is fully trained and prepared to assist customers with new products.
  

Education/Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in production management, preferably in robotic manufacturing.
  
• Proven experience in manufacturing site and/or production line setup, including greenfield or brownfield projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing customer-facing technical support or service functions.
• Proven experience in ERP/MRP system configuration and implementation, preferably with Odoo.
• Strong understanding of efficiency principles and quality standards.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in production planning and Google Office Suite.
  

Compensation / Benefits

• Annual pay rate ranges from $110k - $130k, with the final salary determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity considerations, and market data alignment.
• This position includes a benefits package including paid holidays; paid time off; short-term, and long-term disability; and paid parental leave. Medical/dental/vision insurance eligibility is dependent on the number of hours worked per week.
• We require that applicants already have permission to work in the US. We will not sponsor work-related visas now or in the future.

Please include both a resume and cover letter. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Fotokite US LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, disability, religion, national origin, military service, arrest/conviction record, victims of domestic violence, and genetics.

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This position description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be required to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.