Operations Supervisor in Downers Grove, Illinois at DICKE Safety Products
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Job Description
About Us
Founded in 1886, DICKE Safety Products has been providing dependable work zone safety, emergency traffic control, and specialized utility products for more than 140 years. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, with an additional manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon, the company has built its reputation on American-made quality, innovation, and dependable customer service. The company holds numerous patents and continually develops new products to meet changing customer needs. Its product lines include roll-up signs, portable stands for roll-up and rigid signs, Fold & Roll® systems, stop/slow paddles, warning and sequential lights, high-visibility apparel, flags, equipment bags and storage products, temporary traffic-control manuals and resources, ladder-stabilizing equipment, utility products, and related safety accessories.
What sets DICKE apart is our focus on quality, practical, field-driven design. Our sign stands, mounting systems, and product configurations are developed to accommodate different sign types, display heights, storage limitations, wind conditions, terrain, and deployment requirements. We also offer custom legends, overlays, sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and configurations to help customers find the right solution for their specific needs.
As a family-owned and WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise, DICKE combines generations of leadership with active involvement in the roadway-safety industry. For the past five generations, we have built our business around dependable products, knowledgeable service, and long-term customer relationships. DICKE Safety remains committed to delivering durable, high-performance products while maintaining strong relationships with distributors, public agencies, utilities, contractors, and end users across North America.
Job Summary
DICKE Safety Products is seeking a qualified, hands-on Operations Supervisor to oversee day-to-day operational activities across manufacturing and related support functions, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with longstanding quality standards. This role is responsible for supervising employees, coordinating workflows, monitoring output, supporting operational priorities, and ensuring the people, processes, equipment, materials, and resources needed to meet customer demand are in place and being used effectively.
The Operations Supervisor will serve as a visible day-to-day leader throughout the facility, helping set expectations, maintain accountability, and advance operational tasks. This person will work closely with the Manager, production, engineering, department supervisors, and team members to support daily activities, resolve operational issues, maintain accurate reporting, and drive consistent execution across departments.
This position is well suited for a practical, organized, and engaged operations leader who is comfortable balancing people leadership with hands-on problem solving. The ideal candidate will be able to keep teams focused, communicate clearly, quickly address issues, reinforce safe work practices, and support a productive environment where quality, efficiency, and execution matter. For someone who enjoys being directly involved in day-to-day operations, supporting employees, coordinating across functions, and making a positive impact on critical activities, this is an opportunity to play a vital role in the continued success of DICKE Safety Products.
Responsibilities
- Supervise, manage, and coordinate daily operational activities across the facility
- Direct and coordinate the activities of employees to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, accurately, and in alignment with company priorities
- Manage workforce assignments and operational resources to meet production schedules, service requirements, quality standards, and customer demand
- Work closely with the Manager, production, engineering, department supervisors, and employees to coordinate workflow and resolve operational issues
- Confer with department supervisors to coordinate daily priorities, staffing needs, workflow requirements, and cross-functional support
- Ensure team members follow applicable safety policies, work practices, operating procedures, and company standards
- Verify employees accurately record production, inventory, labor, and other required operational data in the computer system
- Confirm that adequate resources, materials, tools, equipment, and supplies are available to support operational needs
- Monitor work quality, productivity, and process execution to ensure established standards, specifications, and customer expectations are met
- Assist with problem resolution and help develop responsive corrective actions when operational issues arise
- Coordinate installation, inspection, repair, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting of machinery, equipment, and facility systems
- Open the facility and supervise Saturday overtime or other operational coverage as needed
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Minimum of 3+ years of relevant operations supervision, production supervision, or manufacturing leadership experience
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering
- Strong understanding of operational workflows, production processes, quality standards, safety practices, inventory coordination, and shop floor operations
- Ability to supervise, motivate, and hold employees accountable in a fast-paced manufacturing and operations environment
- Strong problem analysis, troubleshooting, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
- Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and cross-functional coordination skills
- Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and production, inventory, ERP, and related business systems
- Organized, dependable, and capable of managing multiple priorities across departments while maintaining attention to detail
Salary Range
$70,000 - $100,000
The salary range for this position reflects the minimum and maximum compensation for the Operations Supervisor position. Offers are typically made between the range minimum and the range midpoint. Actual compensation will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process, also taking into consideration available market data for the employee’s geographical location and internal salary equity.
Benefits
- 401k plan
- 401k match
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
DICKE Safety Products is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or any other basis protected by law. DICKE Safety Products complies with federal and state disability laws and will provide applicants and candidates with a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the hiring process, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@dicketool.com