Assistant Manufacturing Manager

Zurn Elkay (Elkay Manufacturing); Lumberton (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Matching 401(k) Contribution

Up to 3 weeks starting vacation

Annual bonus eligibility

Job summary

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is hiring an Assistant Manufacturing Manager in Lumberton, NC. The role involves overseeing daily operations, ensuring quality, safety compliance, and driving continuous improvement in manufacturing. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and over 10 years of manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years in management. Benefits include a competitive salary, medical and dental insurance, and up to 3 weeks of vacation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in manufacturing, with minimum 5 years in management.
• Experience in Quality Assurance and Safety.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to meet production goals.
• Ensure workplace safety and compliance with regulations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Mechanical and technical abilities

Analytical skills

Strong problem-solving skills

Lean manufacturing principles

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, Management, Engineering or related discipline

10+ years of experience in manufacturing industry

Job description

Assistant Manufacturing Manager

The Company
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values‑driven company focused on doing the right things. We're a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.
Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.
If you’re ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!

**If you are a current employee, please navigate here to apply internally.**

Position Purpose

The Assistant Manufacturing Manager in manufacturing plays a key supporting leadership role, helping the Manufacturing Manager run day‑to‑day operations efficiently while meeting production, safety, and business goals. This position is responsible for assisting and ensuring that all quality and production requirements are met by supervising daily operations, building and maintaining an effective supervisory team and analysing operations on a continual basis to improve costs, quality, service, and capacity utilisation. The Assistant Plant Manager seeks to obtain optimum efficiency and economy of operations while consistently meeting production needs and requirements. This position indirectly supports other functional leaders in Safety, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Maintenance, and works closely with Finance and Human Resources.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversee Daily Plant Operations
  
  • Direct and coordinate day‑to‑day manufacturing activities to meet production schedules, quality standards, and efficiency targets
• Supervise and Develop Staff
  
  • Lead, coach, and evaluate supervisors and production employees
  • Support hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives
• Ensure Workplace Safety and Compliance
  
  • Enforce safety policies and procedures
  • Monitor compliance with regulatory standards and lead corrective actions when needed
• Monitor Production Performance
  
  • Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as output, downtime, scrap, and labour efficiency
  • Take corrective action to address performance gaps
• Drive Continuous Improvement Initiatives
  
  • Identify process inefficiencies and implement improvements (Lean manufacturing, waste reduction, etc.)
• Coordinate Cross‑Functional Activities
  
  • Collaborate with maintenance, quality, supply chain, and engineering teams to resolve issues and improve operations
• Manage Resources and Costs
  
  • Assist in controlling labour, materials, and operational expenses
  • Support budgeting and cost‑reduction efforts
• Resolve Operational Issues
  
  • Troubleshoot production problems and implement timely solutions to minimise downtime
• Maintain Quality Standards
  
  • Ensure products meet company and customer quality requirements
  • Support audits and quality improvement initiatives
• Act in Leadership Capacity When Needed
  
  • Serve as backup to the Plant Manager and help execute strategic initiatives

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and direction to staff including hiring, disciplinary action, staff development, goal formulation, and performance review
• Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned
• Strong strategy deployment skills and financial accumulation

Scope

This role supports full plant operations, including production, safety, quality, and staffing. The Assistant Manufacturing Manager supervises frontline leadership, contributes to budget management, and drives continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with company goals.

• Responsible for managing 5+ salaried and salaried non‑exempt supervisors directly and approximately 180+ hourly teammates (= $2.6 mm in wages)
• 24‑hour accountability for the site and $115 mm in shipped units produced at the facility

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, Management, Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent experience in lieu of degree
• 10+ years of experience in the manufacturing industry, including minimum 5 years in a management role, with a quantifiable record of accomplishments

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviours

• Strong mechanical, technical, and analytical ability, including strong problem‑solving skills and solid judgement
• Strong mathematical, written, and oral communication skills
• Experience in Quality Assurance, Total Quality Management, Hazard Analysis Control Critical Process, and Safety
• Thorough working knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and demonstrated experience in implementing process improvements
• Complete understanding of business and management principles involved in strategic planning and resource allocation
• Strong problem‑solving skills, critical thinking, and the ability to make decisions under pressure
• Interpersonal skills with all external and internal customers – displays passion and optimism, conflict resolution, professionalism, confidentiality, timely and appropriate response to questions or complaints, seek feedback and consensus, meet commitments, create team building, identifies and supports efforts to succeed

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

This role requires frequent presence on the production floor, including standing, walking, and occasional lifting to 50 lbs. The work environment includes exposure to industrial machinery, noise, and varying temperatures, with required use of PPE. Flexibility in schedule is necessary to support plant operations. Work performed in a manufacturing/industrial environment with exposure to: machinery and moving equipment; noise, dust, fumes, or varying temperatures (hot/cold); required use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, steel‑toe boots, gloves, and hearing protection; may involve working around hazardous materials or chemicals. This is not a remote position: remote work may be performed when approved by leadership.

Total Rewards and Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k) Contribution
• Health Savings Account
• Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Educational Reimbursement
• Matching Gift Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan – purchase company stock at a discount!

THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran