05

Service

Operations
Staffing &
Talent Solutions

We find operations talent that can actually do the work — vetted against real plant floor criteria, not just a resume.

Finding experienced operations talent is hard. Finding someone who can walk into a facility and actually lead lean programs, implement systems, and drive results is harder. Most recruiters can't tell the difference — they're matching keywords, not evaluating capability.

Nextep evaluates every candidate through the lens of a practitioner who has done the work. We know what good looks like on the floor, and we only place people we'd trust to run our own engagements.

10+
Industries Covered
Senior
Practitioner Vetting
Direct
& Contract Placements

What We Recruit

Operations Roles
We Know Cold.

Lean / CI Leaders
Black Belts, Green Belts, CI Managers, Lean Coordinators — practitioners who can run events, drive projects, and build capability in a workforce.
Industrial Engineers
Time study, work measurement, line balance, capacity planning, and methods improvement — the analytical backbone of a high-performing operation.
Operations Managers
Production supervisors through plant managers — leaders who can manage a shift, drive performance, and develop the people underneath them.
Supply Chain & Planning
Demand planners, schedulers, inventory analysts, and supply chain managers who understand the connection between the floor and the forecast.
Maintenance & Reliability
Maintenance managers, reliability engineers, and TPM leads who can build the preventive systems that eliminate unplanned downtime.
Quality Engineers
Quality managers, SPC practitioners, and systems engineers with the technical and interpersonal skills to drive quality into the process — not just inspect it out.

The Difference

Operations Experts
Recruiting Operations
Experts.

The Nextep Approach
✓Evaluated by senior practitioners who've done the work
✓Technical depth assessment — not just behavioral interviews
✓Real plant floor criteria — can they run a Kaizen event on day one?
✓Industry-specific knowledge verified
✓Long-term fit assessed — culture, leadership style, technical level
✓Ongoing support after placement to ensure integration
Typical Recruiters
✗Keyword matching against job description
✗No ability to evaluate technical credibility
✗Can't distinguish a lean practitioner from a lean observer
✗No manufacturing floor experience on the recruiting team
✗Focused on placement speed over placement quality
✗Relationship ends at offer acceptance

Engagement Models

How We Work
With You.

DIRECT
Direct Hire Placement
Full-cycle recruitment for permanent roles. We manage sourcing, screening, technical assessment, and offer support. You hire the right person the first time.
CONTRACT
Contract & Interim
Short-term to long-term contract placements for project coverage, interim leadership, and surge capacity. Experienced practitioners available quickly.
EMBEDDED
Contract-to-Hire
Trial the candidate in your operation before committing. The right fit for senior roles where both parties benefit from a structured evaluation period.

Get Started

Need Someone
Who Can
Actually Deliver?

Tell us the role, the operation, and what you need the person to accomplish. We'll tell you whether we can help — and how fast.

Submit a Role Brief About Nextep