Production Manager

Sonoco Products Company; College Heights (SC); On-site; USD 106,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Sonoco Products Company in the United States seeks a Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations, focusing on safety, quality, productivity, delivery and cost control while driving continuous improvement. You will oversee production teams, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage workforce development.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in manufacturing with 2+ years in leadership, plus Lean Six Sigma experience, and the ability to coach diverse teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of manufacturing experience with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Experience leading production teams and applying Lean/Kaizen/5S methodologies.
• Strong safety, quality, and cost-management knowledge.
• Proficient with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and data reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to train and coach staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA/EPA requirements.
• Direct daily manufacturing operations to meet production goals and schedules.
• Monitor KPIs: safety, quality, productivity, scrap, and cost.
• Develop supervisors and staff through coaching, feedback, and training.
• Coordinate staffing and cross-functional collaboration to optimize efficiency.
• Drive Lean initiatives and continuous improvement across the plant.
• Oversee budgeting, labor, materials, and operating expenses.

Skills

Leadership

Safety leadership

Lean Six Sigma

Communication

Team development

Education

Associate degree in Manufacturing/Engineering or related

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 - all while keeping the heart of "People Build Businesses" alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the Production Manager is responsible for leading all manufacturing operations to achieve world-class performance in safety, quality, productivity, delivery, cost control, employee development, and continuous improvement. This role provides leadership for production teams, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and drives operational excellence through effective workforce management, process improvement, and capital investment initiatives.

The Production Manager is accountable for meeting operational objectives while fostering a safe, engaged, and high-performing work environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong safety leadership and a genuine commitment to employee well-being.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• The ability to motivate, coach, and develop teams.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Confidence presenting information and conducting training for large groups.
• A results-oriented mindset with the ability to balance safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.

What you will be doing:

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead and maintain a comprehensive safety culture that prioritizes accident prevention and employee well-being.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations, including OSHA and EPA requirements.
• Conduct safety audits, investigations, and corrective action activities to prevent recurring incidents.
• Promote employee participation in safety initiatives and continuous safety improvement efforts.

Production Leadership

• Direct daily manufacturing operations to ensure production goals, customer requirements, and delivery schedules are achieved.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, productivity, scrap, labor efficiency, and cost.
• Identify and resolve operational issues that impact performance, quality, or customer service.
• Establish and maintain efficient workflows that maximize productivity while ensuring product quality and employee safety.

Workforce Development & Employee Relations

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production employees to maximize performance and engagement.
• Provide clear direction, performance feedback, training, and career development opportunities.
• Support employee relations activities, including coaching, counseling, conflict resolution, and performance management.
• Partner with Human Resources to address employee concerns and ensure consistent application of company policies.
• Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard production staff as needed.

Planning & Scheduling

• Coordinate production schedules to meet customer demand while optimizing labor utilization, inventory levels, and operating costs.
• Develop staffing plans and work schedules to ensure appropriate coverage across all shifts.
• Collaborate with maintenance, quality, logistics, and other departments to support production objectives.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, throughput, and equipment effectiveness.
• Implement sustainable process improvements and best manufacturing practices.

Quality Management

• Ensure adherence to all quality systems, procedures, and customer specifications.
• Drive accountability for quality inspections, audits, and documentation requirements.
• Investigate quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve performance.

Financial & Capital Management

• Assist in the development and management of the annual operating budget.
• Monitor labor, material, and operating expenses to achieve cost targets.
• Support achievement of plant financial and operational performance goals.

We'd love to hear from you if you have these:

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, Safety, or a related field; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience leading production teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, safety systems, and quality management principles.
• Proven ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, or similar methodologies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees from diverse cultural, educational, and language backgrounds.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical leadership.
• Ability to obtain Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED certification.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule and support multiple shifts as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
• Experience in a high-speed manufacturing or industrial production environment.
• Certification or formal training in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing budgets, capital projects, and operational performance metrics.

Work Environment

The employee regularly works in a manufacturing environment and may be exposed to:

• Moving mechanical equipment and forklifts.
• Elevated noise levels.
• Varying temperatures depending on seasonal conditions.
• Dust, vibration, and other manufacturing-related conditions.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

The employee must be able to:

• Walk and stand for extended periods.
• Climb stairs and occasionally ladders.
• Lift, push, pull, or carry materials up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Frequently observe production operations and move throughout the facility.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this role is from $105,520- $131,900 plus annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
• Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
• Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.