Production Manager

Southern States, LLC; Hampton (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern States, LLC is seeking a Production Manager to lead the Switch Division, ensuring safe, efficient, and high‑quality production operations. This role oversees supervision, hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management to drive team performance and continuous improvement in line with company policies and the bargaining agreement.

Key areas include safeguarding OSHA/EPA compliance, operational excellence, and effective coordination across departments to meet customer deadlines

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing operations.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in industrial, mechanical, or electrical engineering (preferred).
• Excellent project management skills.
• Proven track record of training employees in productivity and safety.
• Working knowledge of OSHA and EPA regulations.
• Ability to coach and mentor employees one-on-one and in groups.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules and operating instructions.

Responsibilities

• Develops and inputs on assembly requirements to determine labor and gross margin.
• Interfaces with departments to meet customer order deadlines.
• Studies production schedules and estimates worker hour requirements.
• Creates detailed schedule timelines to meet shipment dates and specs.
• Develops process plans for each customer order.
• Plans flow of materials and layout of machines.
• Establishes or adjusts work procedures to meet production schedules.
• Recommends improvements in production methods and equipment.
• Suggests changes to working conditions to increase efficiency.
• Coordinates manpower requirements and overtime to meet conditions.
• Analyzes and resolves work problems and assists workers.
• Initiates plans to motivate workers to achieve goals.
• Maintains time and production records.
• Estimates, requisitions, and inspects materials.
• Coordinates activities with other supervisors.
• Sets up machines and equipment; reports malfunctions to maintenance.
• Ensures compliance with policies and safety regulations.
• Maintains labor-management relations and addresses union issues.

Skills

Manufacturing operations

Supervisory experience

Project management

Coaching and mentoring

Reading and interpreting safety docs

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial/mechanical/electrical engineering

Tools

Manufacturing software

Job description

Job Summary

The Production Manager provides direct leadership to employees in the Switch Division, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production operations. This role is responsible for all supervisory functions in accordance with company policies, the collective bargaining agreement, and applicable laws, including hiring, training, scheduling, performance management. The Production Manager drives team performance, resolves operational issues, and fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Basic Responsibilities

• Develops and provides input on assembly requirements needed to determine the total labor and gross margin for a customer's order.
• Interfaces with other departments to ensure customer order deadlines are met.
• Studies production schedules and estimates worker hour requirements for completion of job assignment.
• Creates detailed schedule time lines to ensure customer shipment dates and equipment specifications are met.
• Develops a process plan including people, resources, equipment, and floor space for each customer order.
• Plans flow of materials through department and develop physical layout of machines according to work orders.
• Establishes or adjusts work procedures to meet production schedules.
• Recommends measures to improve production methods, equipment performance, and quality of product.
• Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of shop, department, or work crew.
• Coordinates manpower requirements by increasing or decreasing personnel and overtime to meet changing conditions.
• Analyzes and resolves work problems, or assists workers in solving work problems.
• Initiates or suggests plans to motivate workers to achieve work goals.
• Maintains time and production records.
• Estimates, requisitions, and inspects materials.
• Confers with other supervisors to coordinate activities of individual departments.
• Sets up machines and equipment.
• Reports machine and equipment malfunctions to maintenance personnel.
• Performs activities of workers supervised.
• Interprets company policies to workers and enforces safety regulations.
• Maintains an appropriate labor-management relationship with subordinates.
• Responds to union grievances accordingly and works with subordinates, union, and human resources to discuss and eliminate problems.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in manufacturing operations
• 2+ years’ experience in a supervisory capacity
• Bachelor’s degree required; bachelor’s degree in industrial, mechanical, or electrical engineering preferred
• Excellent project management skills
• Proven track record of successfully training employees in productivity and safety
• Working knowledge of OSHA and EPA regulations
• Ability to coach and mentor employees on a one-on-one basis as well as a group
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of manufacturing software.
• To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
  • Technical Skills - Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
  • Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirt; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
  • Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; prepares and supports those affected by change; monitors transition and evaluates results.
  • Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values.
  • Planning / Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
  • Innovation - Meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
  • Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.