Production Manager

Harvard Group International; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard Group International is seeking a Production Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing on the floor, overseeing five to six production supervisors across two shifts. The role reports to the site operations leader and will indirectly manage the hourly union workforce supporting perforating presses and related operations.

The successful candidate will own daily production performance, build disciplined, scalable operations, and balance immediate execution with organizational development

Qualifications

• Eight-plus years of progressive manufacturing leadership.
• Experience leading supervisors and hourly employees across multiple shifts.
• Hands-on leadership in a mechanical, metal fabrication environment.
• Experience with union workforce management and attendance.
• Experience using Lean, 5S, and visual management.
• Experience using ERP and scheduling systems to drive performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead five production supervisors across day and night shifts.
• Oversee perforating and secondary operations, translating schedules into priorities.
• Manage safety, quality, throughput, labor, downtime, and delivery.
• Develop frontline supervisors and cross-train within a union environment.
• Collaborate with Scheduling, Maintenance, Tooling, Quality, Engineering, HR, and Operational Excellence to resolve production constraints.
• Drive Lean, 5S, standardized work, root-cause problem-solving, and equipment integration.

Skills

People leadership

Lean manufacturing

5S

Continuous improvement

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Scheduling software

Job description

The Production Manager is a hands‑on manufacturing leader responsible for day‑to‑day execution across the production floor. Reporting to the site’s senior operations leader, this individual will lead five to six production supervisors across two shifts and provide indirect leadership to the union production workforce supporting perforating presses and related secondary operations. This newly created role adds an essential layer of operating leadership as the company scales. The Production Manager will assume ownership of daily production performance, strengthen leadership through the supervisor team, and build a more disciplined, scalable operating structure. Success requires a visible floor leader who can balance immediate execution with organization building: keeping the schedule on track, ensuring equipment performs at established rates, improving throughput and delivery, developing supervisors, strengthening workforce accountability, and sustaining Lean improvements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Production Manager

• Lead five production supervisors across day and night shifts, with indirect responsibility for the hourly union workforce.
• Oversee daily perforating and secondary operations, translating production schedules into shift priorities that support on‑time delivery.
• Manage safety, quality, throughput, labor, downtime, scrap, attendance, and delivery while holding supervisors accountable for results.
• Develop frontline supervisors, strengthen onboarding and cross‑training, and address employee performance consistently within a union environment.
• Partner with Scheduling, Maintenance, Tooling, Quality, Engineering, HR, and Operational Excellence to resolve production constraints and meet customer requirements.
• Drive Lean, 5S, standardized work, root‑cause problem‑solving, and equipment integration to support safe, disciplined production growth.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: Production Manager

• Eight-plus years of progressive manufacturing leadership in metal fabrication, stamping, press‑based manufacturing, or a similar industrial environment.
• Experience leading supervisors and hourly employees across multiple shifts and holding teams accountable through frontline leaders.
• Visible, hands‑on leadership style suited to a traditional, mechanically driven manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of high‑mix production, press operations, material flow, changeovers, varied routings, and shifting priorities.
• Experience managing production schedules, throughput, labor efficiency, downtime, quality, and on‑time delivery.
• Experience using ERP, scheduling systems, and operating data to manage production performance.
• Union manufacturing or labor‑relations experience, including consistent management of attendance, performance, conduct, and employee concerns.
• Experience implementing and sustaining Lean, 5S, standardized work, visual management, and root‑cause problem‑solving.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent manufacturing leadership experience considered.

COMPENSATION: Production Manager

The position offers a competitive compensation package, including a strong base salary, first‑year guaranteed incentive, comprehensive benefits, and support for required licenses and designations.