Full job description
For nearly 90 years, our family-owned and operated company has been a trusted partner to manufacturers, fabricators, healthcare providers, and industrial customers across Illinois, Indiana, Southern Wisconsin, and Southern Michigan. With a total of 10 branch locations and a legacy built on safety, service, and long-standing customer relationships, we are seeking a dynamic Operations Manager in Bloomington, Illinois, to help lead us into our next chapter of growth and operational excellence.
If you’re a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in building strong teams and efficient systems, we’d love to meet you.
The Operations Manager will report to the Regional Branch Manager and is responsible for overseeing and optimizing daily operations of our Bloomington branch location. This role ensures safe, compliant, and efficient distribution of compressed gases and welding supplies while maintaining the high standards of service that have defined our company for generations.
This is a strategic and tactical leadership role—balancing big-picture planning with boots-on-the-ground execution.
- Lead daily branch operations, including customer service, distribution, budgeting, inventory, personnel, and growth initiatives.
- Respond to customer inquiries (in person, phone, email) and process orders accurately and efficiently.
- Ensure compliant handling, storage, and distribution of specialty and industrial gases and welding supplies.
- Manage and grow customer accounts by providing product guidance, pricing, availability, and solutions.
- Partner with Technical Sales Representatives on prospecting, quoting, account strategy, and closing.
- Use company systems to manage orders, customer data, inventory, and accurate coding.
- Enforce company policies, industry regulations, and safety standards.
- Maintain a safe, organized facility, including buildings, grounds, and showroom.
- Oversee accurate cylinder exchanges and inventory control.
- Coordinate daily delivery routes for efficiency and service excellence.
- Receive and process shipments and transfers promptly.
- Report incidents immediately and support a strong safety culture.
- Perform other related duties as needed.
Required Skills, Abilities and Education
- Associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; OR four to six years related Industry experience and/or training; or a combination of the above (preferred).
- Prior experience in a retail sales and/or warehouse distribution setting preferred
- Strong knowledge of safety and regulatory compliance in industrial environments.
- Welding, specialty gases or industry knowledge Capable of managing various department functions; establishing efficient work schedules; good organization and time management capabilities.
- Able to lift or move small office machines, inventory stock, boxes, office supplies, etc. which may weigh up to 50 – 75 pounds.
- Capable of reaching operations and distribution decisions based on logical and analytical reasoning ability.
- Capable of regularly using computers, office equipment (fax, copier, etc.)
- Ability to move products on and off store shelves, to walk, stand, bend, stoop, or kneel for long periods of time, and to move freely throughout branch on a continual basis required.
- Capable of working Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 4:30pm.
Why Join Us?
We combine the stability of a long-standing industry leader with the agility and personal connection of a family business. Here, you won’t just manage operations – you’ll shape them. You’ll work alongside experienced leadership, dedicated employees, and customers who rely on us every day to keep their business running safely and efficiently.
If you’re ready to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact in a company built on generations of trust, we invite you to apply.
Pay Range and Benefits:
The disclosed pay range is based on a consideration of neutral factors and criteria such as required qualifications, experience, education, skill, training, certification, seniority and more.
Pay Range: $58,000 - $68,000 annually
Weldstar reserves the right to offer the selected candidate or applicant an hourly rate or salary at an appropriate level to be set and determined by the employer that is commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications, experience, education, skill, training, certification, and/or seniority.
EEO Statement
Weldstar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment, with respect to one another, our products, the diverse customers we represent, and the communities we support. We do all of this with kindness, empathy and respect for one another. Weldstar is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for all employees and applicants for employment. This prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, age, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information or any other characteristics protected by law.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $58,000.00 - $68,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Full job description
For nearly 90 years, our family-owned and operated company has been a trusted partner to manufacturers, fabricators, healthcare providers, and industrial customers across Illinois, Indiana, Southern Wisconsin, and Southern Michigan. With a total of 10 branch locations and a legacy built on safety, service, and long-standing customer relationships, we are seeking a dynamic Operations Manager in Bloomington, Illinois, to help lead us into our next chapter of growth and operational excellence.
If you’re a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in building strong teams and efficient systems, we’d love to meet you.
The Operations Manager will report to the Regional Branch Manager and is responsible for overseeing and optimizing daily operations of our Bloomington branch location. This role ensures safe, compliant, and efficient distribution of compressed gases and welding supplies while maintaining the high standards of service that have defined our company for generations.
This is a strategic and tactical leadership role—balancing big-picture planning with boots-on-the-ground execution.
- Lead daily branch operations, including customer service, distribution, budgeting, inventory, personnel, and growth initiatives.
- Respond to customer inquiries (in person, phone, email) and process orders accurately and efficiently.
- Ensure compliant handling, storage, and distribution of specialty and industrial gases and welding supplies.
- Manage and grow customer accounts by providing product guidance, pricing, availability, and solutions.
- Partner with Technical Sales Representatives on prospecting, quoting, account strategy, and closing.
- Use company systems to manage orders, customer data, inventory, and accurate coding.
- Enforce company policies, industry regulations, and safety standards.
- Maintain a safe, organized facility, including buildings, grounds, and showroom.
- Oversee accurate cylinder exchanges and inventory control.
- Coordinate daily delivery routes for efficiency and service excellence.
- Receive and process shipments and transfers promptly.
- Report incidents immediately and support a strong safety culture.
- Perform other related duties as needed.
Required Skills, Abilities and Education
- Associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; OR four to six years related Industry experience and/or training; or a combination of the above (preferred).
- Prior experience in a retail sales and/or warehouse distribution setting preferred
- Strong knowledge of safety and regulatory compliance in industrial environments.
- Welding, specialty gases or industry knowledge Capable of managing various department functions; establishing efficient work schedules; good organization and time management capabilities.
- Able to lift or move small office machines, inventory stock, boxes, office supplies, etc. which may weigh up to 50 – 75 pounds.
- Capable of reaching operations and distribution decisions based on logical and analytical reasoning ability.
- Capable of regularly using computers, office equipment (fax, copier, etc.)
- Ability to move products on and off store shelves, to walk, stand, bend, stoop, or kneel for long periods of time, and to move freely throughout branch on a continual basis required.
- Capable of working Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 4:30pm.
Why Join Us?
We combine the stability of a long-standing industry leader with the agility and personal connection of a family business. Here, you won’t just manage operations – you’ll shape them. You’ll work alongside experienced leadership, dedicated employees, and customers who rely on us every day to keep their business running safely and efficiently.
If you’re ready to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact in a company built on generations of trust, we invite you to apply.
Pay Range and Benefits:
The disclosed pay range is based on a consideration of neutral factors and criteria such as required qualifications, experience, education, skill, training, certification, seniority and more.
Pay Range: $58,000 - $68,000 annually
Weldstar reserves the right to offer the selected candidate or applicant an hourly rate or salary at an appropriate level to be set and determined by the employer that is commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications, experience, education, skill, training, certification, and/or seniority.
EEO Statement
Weldstar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment, with respect to one another, our products, the diverse customers we represent, and the communities we support. We do all of this with kindness, empathy and respect for one another. Weldstar is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for all employees and applicants for employment. This prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, age, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information or any other characteristics protected by law.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $58,000.00 - $68,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person