Assistant Production Manager - UniFirst

UniFirst; Melrose Park (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

401K with company match

Profit sharing

Health and life insurance

Paid time off

tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

UniFirst, located in Melrose Park, IL, seeks an Assistant Production Manager to lead training, uphold safety and standards, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced facility.

You will guide a diverse team, optimize production schedules, and collaborate across departments to align goals with business objectives and our enterprise mindset. Emphasis on safety and cost-conscious operations.

Qualifications

• Must have min 21 years old
• Valid driver’s license with safe driving record
• High school diploma or GED required
• 2+ years leadership experience with strong teambuilding
• Ability to perform physical tasks (lift, stand, walk)
• Occasional travel (less than 25%)
• Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years PM experience with leadership and process improvement
• Financial literacy to analyze production costs
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Familiarity with ISO standards and Lean Six Sigma methodologies
• Commitment to safety and compliance initiatives
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead team training, uphold facility standards and safety
• Drive continuous improvement and optimize production processes
• Support and inspire team members toward a high-performing culture
• Oversee wastewater processes and manage inventory, vendors and equipment
• Assist development and implementation of production schedules
• Collaborate across Service, Sales, Maintenance and Office departments
• Partner with Production Manager on hiring, onboarding and retention

Skills

Leadership

Financial literacy

Microsoft Office

Lean Six Sigma

Safety compliance

Bilingual English/Spanish

Process optimization

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree or 2+ years PM experience

Tools

ISO standards familiarity

Job description

Assistant Production Manager - UniFirst

Location:

Melrose Park, Illinois

Job ID

2604234

Assistant Production Manager

Careers that A lways D eliver!

At UniFirst , we Always Deliver —for our customers and our people.Joinusas an Assistant Production Manager , whereyou’lllead team training, uphold facility standards, prioritize safety, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.Reporting to the Production Manager,you’llhelp guide a dynamic and diverse team while fostering a culture of collaboration andinclusiveness.Bring your leadership skills, process optimizationexpertise, and financial acumentomake a meaningful impact in our Production Department.

What Y our R ole E ntails:

• Optimize processes by partnering with the Production Manager to spearhead continuous improvement initiatives.

• Achieve production targets whilemaintainingquality standards andidentifyingcost-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 tointernal and externalstakeholders.

• Ensure safety compliance byconducting regularinspections and providingtraining andproactiveinitiatives.

• Oversee wastewater processes tooptimizeefficiency andminimize environmental impact.

• Manage inventory , vendor relationships , and equipment maintenanceto ensure seamless operations.

• Assist d evelop ment and implementation of production schedules while driving operational improvements.

• Collaborate across departments , including Service, Sales, Maintenance, and Office, to alignproduction goalswith businessobjectivesandourenterprise mindset.

• Exhibit strategic agility to adapt tochange,overcome challenges, and drive long-term success.

• Support employee transitions by partnering withtheProduction Manager in hiring, onboarding, retention, and offboarding.

Core C ompetencies:

• Leadership and Team Support: Ability to motivate, inspire, and foster collaboration within a diverse team while ensuring accountability and high performance.

• Process Improvement and Efficiency: Expertiseinoptimizingproduction processes and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

• Strategic Adaptability: Capacityto navigate change, align cross-departmental goals, and support long-term success in a dynamic environment.

Why You’ll Enjoy This Role:

• Variety and Impact: Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to innovate and lead in a dynamic environment.

• Collaborative Culture: You’llwork with a diverse team and engage across multiple departments, fostering inclusiveness and shared success.

• Professional Growth: UniFirst provides continuous training, career advancement opportunities, and a supportive environment for personal and professional development.

Qualifications

What You Bring to UniFirst :

• Minimum 21 yearsof age.

• Validdriver’s license and safe driving recordisrequired.

• High School diploma or GED equivalent is required.

• Minimum 2 years of relevant leadership experience withstrong teambuilding and interpersonal relationships.

• Ability to performphysical tasks, including lifting, carrying, standing, and walking for extended periods.

• Willingness to travel occasionally (less than 25%).

• Bachelor's degree or 2+ years of production management experience, with leadership, process improvement skills, and industry best practices.

• Financial literacyto analyze production costs and make data-driven decisions

• Proficiencyin Microsoft Suite.

• Familiarity with ISO standards and/or Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

• Commitment to safety and complianceinitiatives.

• Bilingual in English and Spanishis highlypreferred.

You W ill B enefit F rom :

• Competitive salarywith management bonus eligibility, 401K with company match, profit sharing, health and life insurance, paid time off, employee discounts, tuition reimbursement and more.

• Monday – Friday schedule withoccasionalweekendwork as needed.

• Continuous training and career growth opportunities.

• A diverse and inclusive culture that valuesdifferent backgroundsand perspectives.

UniFirst is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws.

UniFirst is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws.

If you require an accommodation during any part of the application process due to a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at [e-mail] or through our EthicsFirst portal at UniFirst.ethicspoint.com. You may also call the EthicsFirst Hotline at(800) 213-8979 (tel:[phone]) to let us know the nature of your request.

UniFirst Recruiters and/or representatives will not ask job seekers to provide personal financial information when submitting a job application. Please be vigilant as such requests for information may be fraudulent.