The Production Manager leads a manufacturing operations department to achieve performance objectives in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity. This role provides both strategic and day-to-day leadership to production teams, ensuring operational excellence, workforce capability, and alignment with plant and business priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead department operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets
- Foster and maintain a safe work environment, ensuring compliance with all safety, environmental, and company standards
- Provide leadership and direction to production teams and supervisors, including coaching, performance management, and development
- Plan and allocate labor, equipment, and materials to meet production demand and operational priorities
- Monitor and improve equipment and process performance, including uptime, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness
- Lead resolution of operational issues through data-driven problem solving and cross-functional collaboration
- Support new product introduction, equipment installation, and start-up activities to ensure successful transition into manufacturing
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction
- Manage departmental budgets, spending, and resource utilization to meet financial and operational targets
- Communicate operational performance, priorities, and risks to plant leadership and key stakeholders
- Ensure workforce readiness, staffing alignment, and capability development to meet current and future business needs
Experiences/Education - Required
- Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering or technical discipline preferred
- Minimum 5 years of manufacturing or operations experience
- Minimum 3–5 years of leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated leadership in manufacturing operations with a strong focus on safety and performance
- Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate teams while delivering results
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills using data and operational metrics
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Effective verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization
- Strong organizational, planning, and execution skills
- Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience
- Experience supporting new product introduction, equipment start-up, or process transfers into manufacturing
- Exposure to multiple equipment platforms or manufacturing processes
- Coaching and talent development
- Accountability and performance management