Manufacturing Dept Leader: Safety, Quality & Efficiency

Ingredion Incorporated; Lyons Township (IL); On-site; USD 102,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Ingredion Incorporated in Bedford Park, IL is seeking a Department Manager to lead daily manufacturing operations, ensuring safe, high-quality production and alignment with business objectives for safety, quality, capacity, and cost. You will build and develop frontline teams, coach performance, and drive continuous improvement across production activities.

The role reports to the Unit Manager and requires collaboration with maintenance, HR, quality, and supply chain to resolve challenges and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering preferred) or equivalent technical manufacturing experience.
• Experience leading manufacturing, production, or operations teams in a plant environment.
• Strong knowledge of operational excellence, continuous improvement methodologies, root cause analysis, and performance management systems.
• Experience utilizing production and financial data to make informed business decisions and drive operational results.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient production that meets volume, quality, and customer requirements.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing frontline team through effective hiring, training, performance management, and employee engagement practices.
• Drive operational excellence by utilizing KPI management, visual management systems, standard work, and continuous improvement methodologies to improve productivity and reliability.
• Analyze operational data to identify downtime, waste, and performance improvement opportunities, translating insights into actionable solutions.
• Manage controllable costs including labor, overtime, waste, utilities, and supplies while supporting inventory accuracy and production planning objectives.
• Partner with Maintenance, Human Resources, Quality, Supply Chain, union leadership, auditors, and site leadership to resolve operational challenges and achieve plant goals.
• Lead problem-solving initiatives, corrective actions, and change management efforts while ensuring sustained results through training, verification, and accountability.

Skills

Operations leadership

Root cause analysis

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field

Tools

KPI management systems

Visual management

Standard work

Job description

Ingredion Incorporated in Bedford Park, IL is seeking a Department Manager to lead daily manufacturing operations, ensuring safe, high-quality production and alignment with business objectives for safety, quality, capacity, and cost. You will build and develop frontline teams, coach performance, and drive continuous improvement across production activities.

The role reports to the Unit Manager and requires collaboration with maintenance, HR, quality, and supply chain to resolve challenges and