Production Manager

ContiTech; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Continental ContiTech in Lincoln, Nebraska seeks an experienced Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations across both production and finished goods teams. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while upholding a zero-incident culture.

The ideal candidate has a hands-on leadership style in high-volume environments, a proven track record in continuous improvement, ERP/SCM fluency, and the ability to develop and coach diverse teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, or 14+ years in lieu of a degree.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality systems, and safety programs.
• Experience utilizing ERP and manufacturing reporting systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Visa sponsorship for Continental / ContiTech employees.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leaders, and production employees across multiple departments.
• Foster a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance evaluations, development planning, and succession planning.
• Partner with HR to support hiring, training, employee relations, attendance management, and workforce planning.
• Direct and coordinate daily production activities; ensure schedules are met with safety, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Monitor metrics and implement corrective actions to improve performance; optimize labor, equipment, and throughput.
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS teams to ensure smooth operations.

Job description

Company Description

Continental group sector offers its customers connected, environment-friendly, safe and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 39,000 employees in more than 40 countries and sales of some 6.4 billion euros (2024), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America.

Job Description

Position Summary

Continental ContiTech is seeking an experienced and results-driven Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations within our Lincoln, Nebraska facility. This position is responsible for overseeing production activities across both our manufacturing operations and finished goods production departments, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing processes. The Production Manager will drive operational excellence through employee engagement, continuous improvement initiatives, productivity enhancements, and strong leadership of production teams.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on manufacturing leader with experience in high-volume industrial production environments, a strong commitment to safety, and a proven ability to develop teams while meeting business objectives.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leaders, and production employees across multiple manufacturing departments.

• Foster a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

• Conduct performance evaluations, employee development planning, and succession planning activities.

• Partner with Human Resources to support hiring, training, employee relations, attendance management, and workforce planning.

Manufacturing Operations

• Direct and coordinate daily production activities for operations.

• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

• Monitor production metrics and implement corrective actions to improve performance.

• Optimize labor utilization, equipment efficiency, and manufacturing throughput.

• Collaborate with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS teams to ensure smooth operational execution.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and actively support a zero-incident safety culture.

• Participate in audits and drive continuous improvement of safety programs.

Business & Operational Performance

• Manage departmental budgets and support cost reduction initiatives.

• Monitor key performance indicators including safety, quality, productivity, scrap, labor efficiency, and on-time delivery.

• Prepare operational reports and communicate performance results to plant leadership.

• Support capital improvement projects, equipment installations, and manufacturing process improvements.

Qualifications

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE ROLE

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field

• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, or related process manufacturing environments OR 14+ years of experience in manufacturing leadership in lieu of a degree

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality systems, and safety programs.

• Experience utilizing ERP and manufacturing reporting systems.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Visa sponsorship for Continental / ContiTech employees

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO STAND OUT

• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement certification.

• Experience in union manufacturing environments.

• Experience with rubber, industrial, automotive, chemical, and plastics

• Knowledge of ISO quality management systems.

• Experience with SAP

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to [e-mail] or contact US Recruiting at 800-821-2727. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.