NC Production Manager

Southeastern Container; Candler (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Southeastern Container is seeking a Production Manager to lead and direct manufacturing operations across multiple departments. The role emphasizes safety, quality, productivity, and cost control, with a focus on building a high-performing, engaged workforce.

You will collaborate with maintenance, quality, engineering, and supply chain teams to optimize production scheduling, material flow, and continuous improvement efforts while ensuring OSHA compliance and a culture of accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience leading high-volume production in a fast-paced facility.
• Knowledge of production systems, continuous improvement, and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations across departments and shifts to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Coach and develop supervisors, team leaders, and hourly staff to build a high-performing team.
• Monitor KPIs on safety, quality, productivity, downtime, and customer service.
• Drive Lean initiatives and continuous improvement to reduce waste and costs.
• Coordinate with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to optimize performance and material flow.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Problem solving

Lean manufacturing

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Description Southeast Container, Inc. is one of the largest leading manufacturers of PET beverage bottles and preforms, proudly supplying the Coca-Cola bottling system throughout the East Coast and Midwest. For over 35 years, we've built a reputation for stability, quality, and sustained growth. We are now seeking talented individuals to join our team for the following role: Title: Production Manager Reports To: General Manager Position Summary: The Production Manager is responsible for leading and directing production activities within a manufacturing operation to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products. This role provides leadership for production supervisors, team leaders, and hourly staff while driving operational excellence through continuous improvement, employee development, and achievement of key business objectives. The Production Manager is accountable for safety, quality, productivity, labor performance, customer service, and cost management within the manufacturing operation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead daily production operations across assigned departments and all shifts to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Direct, coach, and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and production employees to build a high-performing workforce.
• Monitor and drive performance against key operational metrics, including safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, scrap, downtime, labor utilization, and customer service.
• Foster a culture of accountability, employee engagement, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Coach, mentor and develop team members Champion workplace safety and ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, quality standards, and company policies.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts related to safety, quality, and operational performance issues.
• Partner with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Human Resources to optimize operational performance, provide developmental opportunities and support business objectives.
• Partner with the General Manager and, at multi-process facilities, with other Operations Managers to coordinate production scheduling and material flow across processes (i.e., preform supply to blow molding) to optimize internal and external service.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and waste reduction initiatives to improve productivity and reduce operating costs.
• Manage labor resources, staffing levels, and departmental expenditures to meet operational and financial targets.
• Oversee warehouse, shipping, and inventory operations for the assigned area(s), ensuring accurate finished-goods and raw-materials inventory control, timely and complete order fulfillment, efficient material flow and storage, and on-time carrier loading in coordination with logistics.
• Support succession planning and leadership development to ensure organizational capability and bench strength.
• Participate in capital projects, capacity planning, and strategic operational initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred. Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience and demonstrated operational success may be substituted for formal education.
• 3-5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing environment preferred. Internal candidates with strong leadership potential, whether in a formal supervisory role or as a Team Leader, technical lead, or project lead will be considered.
• Experience leading production operations in a high-volume, fast-paced manufacturing facility.
• Strong knowledge of production systems, continuous improvement methodologies, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Experience in plastics, packaging, blow molding, injection molding, and/or other process manufacturing environments preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, solve problems, and drive measurable business results.
• Willingness to travel or relocate to other facilities.

Key Competencies:

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-development skills
• Operational excellence and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to use operational data and KPIs to drive decisions and accountability.
• Financial acumen and sound business decision-making capability.
• Understanding of OSHA, employment laws, and safety and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead through change and grow into broader plant leadership across multiple facilities.