Assistant Production Manager – Lead Lean & Safety

UniFirst; Melrose Park (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K match

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

UniFirst is seeking an Assistant Production Manager to lead team development, optimize production processes, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment. You will report to the Production Manager and oversee safety, quality, and efficiency while collaborating across departments to align with business goals.

The role requires leadership experience, financial literacy, and Lean Six Sigma familiarity; bilingual English/Spanish is a strong plus.

Qualifications

• Minimum 21 years of age.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• High School diploma or GED equivalent.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant leadership experience.
• Bachelor's degree or 2+ years of production management experience.
• Financial literacy to analyze production costs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
• Familiarity with ISO standards and Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
• Commitment to safety and compliance initiatives.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Optimize processes by partnering with the Production Manager to spearhead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Achieve production targets while maintaining quality standards and identifying cost‑saving opportunities.
• Support and inspire team members to foster a collaborative, accountable, and high‑performing work environment.
• Foster a service‑oriented culture that delivers exceptional value to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure safety compliance by conducting regular inspections and providing training and proactive initiatives.
• Oversee wastewater processes to optimize efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
• Manage inventory, vendor relationships, and equipment maintenance to ensure seamless operations.
• Assist development and implementation of production schedules while driving operational improvements.
• Collaborate across departments to align production goals with business objectives and our enterprise mindset.
• Exhibit strategic agility to adapt to change, overcome challenges, and drive long‑term success.
• Support employee transitions by partnering with the Production Manager in hiring, onboarding, retention, and offboarding.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Process improvement

Lean Six Sigma

Bilingual EN/ES

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

ISO standards

Job description

UniFirst is seeking an Assistant Production Manager to lead team development, optimize production processes, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment. You will report to the Production Manager and oversee safety, quality, and efficiency while collaborating across departments to align with business goals.

The role requires leadership experience, financial literacy, and Lean Six Sigma familiarity; bilingual English/Spanish is a strong plus.