Production Manager

LifeWork Search; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeWork Search is seeking a hands-on Production Manager for a labor-intensive manual assembly environment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. You will lead multiple manual lines, guide safety, quality, and productivity on the floor, and ensure on-time execution of customer requirements.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in assembly or packaging operations, strong line-balancing and labor planning skills, and a proven track record of driving continuous improvement with frontline teams.

Qualifications

• Experience leading labor-intensive production, assembly, packaging or kitting.
• Proven ability to drive throughput via people and process, not heavy automation.
• Knowledge of line balancing, labor planning, time studies, and standard work.
• Strong continuous improvement mindset and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Experience with audits, CAPA, SOPs and regulated environments preferred.
• Able to spend most time on the production floor and overlap second shift.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production across manual assembly and kitting lines (10-40 employees per line).
• Spend ~90% on the floor with supervisors to drive safety, quality, productivity and schedule attainment.
• Plan labor and balance lines based on volume, work content, staffing levels, and customer requirements.
• Review upcoming builds with supervisors; ensure lines, materials, and staffing prepared in advance.
• Own production KPIs: output, efficiency, quality, labor utilization, waste, safety.
• Use time studies, standard work, line-balancing to identify bottlenecks and improve productivity.
• Evaluate line layouts and workstations to improve ergonomics, workflow, safety, and efficiency.
• Continuously review processes and implement practical changes on the floor.
• Partner with Quality and other functions to support SOPs, CAPA, traceability, food safety, and customer requirements.

Skills

Production leadership

Manufacturing experience

Assembly operations

Line balancing

Labor planning

Time studies

Standard work

Ergonomic setup

Continuous improvement

Quality systems

Job description

Ref No: 1510

Location: Dallas-Fort Worth Area, TX

We are currently working with a growing organization that has recently added several new customers and is expanding its production operation. As they continue to grow, they are looking for a hands-on Production Manager to lead a labor-intensive, manual assembly environment and drive productivity, continuous improvement, and team development.

Position Description:

• Lead day-to-day production across multiple manual assembly and kitting lines, typically ranging from 10-40 employees per line.
• Spend approximately 90% of the day on the production floor, working with supervisors and team members to drive safety, quality, productivity, and schedule attainment.
• Plan labor and balance production lines based on volume, work content, staffing levels, and customer requirements.
• Review upcoming builds with supervisors and ensure lines, materials, and staffing are properly prepared in advance.
• Own production KPIs, including output, efficiency, quality, labor utilization, waste, and safety.
• Use time studies, standard work, and line-balancing techniques to identify bottlenecks and improve productivity.
• Evaluate line layouts and workstations to improve ergonomics, workflow, safety, and efficiency.
• Continuously review processes, identify improvement opportunities, and implement practical changes on the floor.
• Partner with Quality and other functions to support SOPs, audit readiness, CAPA, traceability, food safety, and customer requirements.

Background Required:

• Highly energetic, self-motivated production leader with significant experience in manufacturing, assembly, packaging, kitting, or another labor-intensive production environment.
• Strong experience leading manual assembly operations where people and process drive throughput rather than highly automated equipment.
• Demonstrated understanding of line balancing, labor planning, time studies, standard work, production flow, and ergonomic line setup.
• Strong continuous improvement mindset and the ability to pivot quickly as production priorities change.
• Experience with audits, CAPA, SOPs, quality systems, and regulated production environments preferred.
• Confident leader with a strong sense of urgency who can communicate expectations and effectively lead long-tenured employees.
• Ability to spend the majority of the workday on the production floor and overlap with second shift as needed.
• Candidates whose experience is primarily in distribution, warehousing, e-commerce fulfillment, or parcel operations without direct production or assembly leadership will not be the best fit.