Production Manager

Soap Creek Resources; Garner (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Soap Creek Resources is seeking a Production Manager to oversee daily manufacturing operations, build a high-performing team, and sustain a safe, collaborative workplace. You will lead initiatives to achieve safety, quality, and delivery goals while developing supervisors and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

In this role, you will actively engage on the production floor, mentor leaders, and drive employee engagement and career growth.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop and coach supervisors.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative leadership skills.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to drive safety, quality and productivity.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost goals.
• Foster a positive culture built on trust, accountability, inclusion and open communication.
• Maintain visible leadership on the production floor to engage teams.
• Coach and develop supervisors and team leaders; support succession planning.
• Promote employee engagement and alignment with organizational goals.
• Attract, retain and develop employees; enable growth and skill development.
• Recognize achievements contributing to safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Encourage feedback and use it to improve the work environment.
• Demonstrate servant leadership in all interactions.
• Support strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Servant leadership

Team building

Emotional intelligence

Conflict resolution

Communication

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience

Job description

Join a team where strong leadership, employee development, and continuous improvement drive success. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about building high-performing teams, fostering a positive workplace culture, and leading manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity goals.

As a Production Manager, you will oversee daily manufacturing operations while creating an environment where employees are engaged, supported, and empowered to deliver exceptional results in a safe and collaborative workplace.

Duties:

Including but not limited to:

• Lead manufacturing operations to achieve goals related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee development.
• Foster a positive workplace culture built on trust, respect, accountability, inclusion, and open communication.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor to engage with employees, understand challenges, remove barriers, recognize contributions, and strengthen working relationships.
• Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors and team leaders while supporting succession planning and future leadership development.
• Promote employee engagement by ensuring team members are informed, involved, and connected to organizational goals and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support efforts to attract, retain, and develop employees while creating opportunities for professional growth, skill development, and career advancement.
• Recognize individual and team accomplishments that contribute to safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Encourage employee feedback and use it to improve the work environment and overall employee experience.
• Demonstrate integrity, accountability, empathy, and servant leadership in all interactions.
• Support strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Maintain a safe, productive, and positive work environment.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to servant leadership and employee development.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams through trust, coaching, communication, and accountability.
• Strong emotional intelligence, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to create employee engagement while maintaining a positive workplace culture.
• Effective conflict resolution and communication skills.
• Ability to lead organizational change while maintaining employee commitment and morale.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, best practices, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience.
• Five or more years of plant management, general management, or manufacturing leadership experience preferred.
• Experience with manufacturing practices, methods, and process improvement programs required.
• Participation in employer-sponsored continuing education may be required.

Work Environment:

• Manufacturing plant environment with regular time spent on the production floor.
• Local travel during the business day may be required, with occasional overnight travel.

Disclaimer: Please note that we are unable to provide job sponsorships, including, but not limited to, visas, corp-to-corp arrangements (C2C), or any other form of sponsorship for employment. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.