Operations Manager (Los Alamitos)

Operations Manager

E-Z LOK | Los Alamitos, CA | Full-Time, On-Site | Exempt Reports to: President & CEO

About E-Z LOK

E-Z LOK is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer and distributor of threaded inserts for metal, wood, and plastic. For nearly 70 years, we've built our reputation on quality products, reliable service, and relationships that last. We're ISO 9001 certified, and we operate with the speed and accountability of a company where ownership is still in the building every day.

We're not standing still. We're actively expanding into direct-to-consumer sales, pursuing big box retail partnerships, launching new product lines, and scaling our e-commerce and fulfillment capabilities. This is a company with real momentum—and we're looking for an Operations Manager who wants to help drive it.

The Role

The Operations Manager is the day-to-day operational leader of the E-Z LOK division. You'll own customer service, warehouse and fulfillment, and the daily rhythm that keeps orders accurate, shipments on time, and customers taken care of. You'll lead a team of 10–11 people directly—and you'll know every one of them by name.

You'll also coordinate closely with our Marketing Manager, Purchasing & Inventory Manager, and Sales Director to keep the operation running as one unit. While those roles don't report to you directly, your ability to align priorities across functions will be critical to the division's success.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll run team meetings, lead company all-hands, and hold people accountable—but you'll also be in the details: reviewing dashboards, resolving issues, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. You report directly to the President & CEO, and the expectation is that you can run this operation independently.

What You'll Own

Customer Service Operations — Lead and develop the Customer Service team. Ensure responsive, accurate service to all customers and channel partners. Oversee order entry, RMA processing, issue resolution, and customer communications. Monitor daily dashboards and error reports to keep performance on track.

Warehouse & Fulfillment — Manage warehouse personnel and daily fulfillment operations including packing, kit building, shipping, and receiving. Drive order accuracy and on-time shipment performance. Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient warehouse environment. Coordinate with Customer Service on order prioritization, backorders, and special handling.

Operational Excellence & Compliance — Own the daily operational cadence: dashboard reviews, error report resolution, and process compliance across all functions. Serve as the tactical driver of our ISO 9001 quality management system—ensuring audits are prepared for, corrective actions are tracked, and procedures are followed. Develop and maintain operational procedures and work instructions.

Inventory & Vendor Coordination — Work alongside the Purchasing & Inventory Manager to ensure stock coverage, cycle count accuracy, and smooth receiving and put-away operations. Provide operational oversight on vendor performance, lead times, and supply reliability.

Channel & E-Commerce Operations — Oversee operational workflows across e-commerce marketplaces, third-party fulfillment channels, EDI transactions, and compliance documentation. Ensure smooth order flow and inventory management across all sales channels.

People Leadership — Hire, onboard, coach, and develop your team. Set clear expectations, conduct regular one-on-ones, and deliver honest performance feedback. Lead team meetings and company all-hands. Build a culture where people feel valued, supported, and accountable to each other.

What Success Looks Like

• Order accuracy consistently at or above 99%.
• On-time shipment performance meeting published lead times and customer commitments.
• All customer inquiries acknowledged same-day and resolved within defined SLA windows.
• Operational dashboards maintained at GREEN status daily—nothing overdue, nothing unresolved.
• A team that is engaged, developing, and performing—with regular coaching, documented goals, and on-time reviews.
• Contribution to a minimum of 10% year-over-year division revenue growth through operational reliability and service quality.

Who You Are

You're a natural leader who earns respect by showing up, doing the work, and treating people right. You believe that developing your team is the job—not a side task. You've built real loyalty on teams before, not just compliance.

You're organized and disciplined enough to manage a daily operational cadence with dozens of moving parts, but you're also confident enough to make decisions, lead meetings, and drive change without waiting to be told. You take ownership—of your results, your team's performance, and the problems that land on your desk.

You're energized by working in a company where your work matters, where the owner is down the hall, and where you can see the impact of what you do. You don't need layers of management and approval chains to get things done—you need trust, autonomy, and a team to build.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive experience in operations, distribution, fulfillment, or customer service management with direct team leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop a team of 10+ people in a hands-on environment.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems (NetSuite experience strongly preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Experience with ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems is a plus.
• Familiarity with warehouse operations, shipping carriers, and fulfillment processes.
• Experience in wholesale distribution or industrial products is preferred but not required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience will be considered.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $105,000–$125,000 annually, depending on experience. Performance Incentive: Total compensation potential up to $150,000 based on achievement of meaningful operational and business goals.

Benefits include:

• Multiple medical plan options (HMO and PPO plans available)
• Dental coverage (DHMO and DPPO)
• Vision coverage
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Pre-tax payroll deductions for all elected benefits
• Benefits eligibility on the first of the month following 30 days of employment

Work Environment & Travel

• Full-time, on-site at our Los Alamitos, CA facility—5 days per week.
• Combined office and warehouse environment. You'll move between both regularly.
• Occasional travel for trade shows and customer visits as needed.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Our Values

At E-Z LOK, our values aren't words on a wall—they're how we operate every day. We expect our Operations Manager to model these and hold the team to the same standard.

• Safety — Protecting the health of our employees, customers, and environment.
• Excellence — Deliver what we promise. Meet or exceed internal and external customer expectations.
• Respect — Listen, understand, and value others. Treat people how you wish to be treated.
• Integrity — Keep your promises. Know and do what is right.
• Responsibility — Take ownership of your behavior and decisions. Be reliable and accountable.
• Teamwork — Work together and share ideas to achieve common goals.
• Lean — Organized, clean, and functional. No waste.
• Fun — Enjoy yourself and help others do the same.

E-Z LOK is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more about us at ezlok.com