Junior Production Area Manager

ppg; Quattordio; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

PPG in Italy is seeking a motivated Junior Production Area Manager to support daily operations in our chemical manufacturing environment. You will help ensure safe, efficient production and collaborate with maintenance, quality, logistics and engineering teams.

The role emphasizes learning leadership skills, monitoring KPIs, applying continuous improvement methods, and contributing to Lean initiatives while upholding safety standards.

Qualifications

• Master or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 1–3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of the department, assisting in daily operations and production schedules.
• Monitor production activities and contribute to safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Learn and apply OEM standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001).
• Support supervisors and operators in maintaining efficient workflows and resolving issues.
• Assist in monitoring KPIs (efficiency, scrap, cycle times) and participate in improvements.
• Participate in Lean manufacturing and problem-solving activities.
• Promote compliance with workplace safety and environmental standards.
• Collaborate with Logistics, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to ensure smooth production flows.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams on preventive and corrective interventions.
• Contribute to employee training and onboarding, ensuring SOP adherence.
• Prepare reports and communicate production updates to stakeholders.
• Develop leadership and people management skills through coaching and hands-on experience.

Skills

Team leadership

Problem solving

English communication

ERP knowledge

MS Office

Education

Master's or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mechanical or related field

Job description

JOB FUNCTION

We are seeking a motivated and ambitious Junior Production Area Manager to join our production team and support the daily management of specific manufacturing departments. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and gain hands‑on experience in a fast‑paced chemical manufacturing environment.

Working closely with experienced managers, the Junior Production Area Manager will contribute to ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production processes. The role involves supporting team coordination, monitoring production activities, helping to optimize workflows, and participating in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity, quality, and cost efficiency.

The ideal candidate is eager to learn, demonstrates strong problem‑solving and communication skills, and has an interest in manufacturing operations. A proactive attitude, attention to detail, and a commitment to safety and teamwork are essential for success in this role.

The objective of this position is to build the competencies required to progressively take on greater responsibilities while contributing to the delivery of high‑quality products in a safe, efficient, and cost‑effective manner.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Support the management of department, assisting in the coordination of daily operations and production schedules.
• Monitor production activities and contribute to the achievement of safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Learn and apply OEM standards, technical specifications, and relevant industry requirements (IATF 16949, ISO 9001).
• Support supervisors and operators in maintaining efficient workflows and resolving day‑to‑day operational issues.
• Assist in monitoring key production KPIs (efficiency, scrap rates, cycle times) and participate in the implementation of improvement actions.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, contributing to Lean Manufacturing and problem‑solving activities.
• Promote and support compliance with workplace safety and environmental standards.
• Collaborate with Logistics, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to ensure smooth production flows.
• Support maintenance planning activities by coordinating with maintenance teams on preventive and corrective interventions.
• Contribute to employee training and onboarding activities, helping to ensure adherence to operating procedures.
• Prepare reports and communicate production updates to cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Develop leadership and people management skills through coaching, mentoring, and hands‑on experience in the production environment.

Requirements

• Master or Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mechanical, or related fields.
• 1-3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in a Team Leader, Shift Leader, Production Engineer, Production Supervisor, or similar role.
• Experience within chemical manufacturing or other process industries is preferred.
• Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes, plant operations, maintenance practices, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Initial experience in coordinating production teams and supporting daily shop floor activities.
• Familiarity with safety standards and regulatory requirements in an industrial environment.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proactive attitude, willingness to learn, and ability to adapt in a dynamic production setting.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with ERP or production management systems is considered a plus.
• Good command of English, both written and spoken.

The base salary range for this position is 50.000,00 eur to 55.000,00 eur per year.

We confirm that this job offer is based on objective and gender-neutral criteria and complies with the relevant provisions of the applicable National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL), in accordance with and in full respect of Legislative Decree No. 96 of 7 May 2026 implementing Directive (EU) 2023/970.

About us:

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD

Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPG on X.

The PPG Way 2030

We are customer champions

Proactive. Bold. Trustworthy. Everything we do starts with our customers. We listen, move fast and don't stop until we solve their biggest challenges. When our customers win, we all grow.

We act with purpose and speed

Agile. Data-driven. Empowered. We take smart risks to stay ahead of the competition. We work proactively with agility, using quality data to develop solutions that create value.

We are excellent operators

Productive. Collaborative. Accountable. No matter our role, we identify problems, take ownership and always bring solutions. We are both proactiv