Production Manager

LifeWork Search; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lifework Search is seeking a hands-on Production Manager to lead a labor-intensive manual assembly environment, driving productivity, safety, quality, and schedule attainment across multiple lines. The role requires spending most of the day on the production floor coordinating with supervisors and frontline teams.

You will plan labor, balance lines, review upcoming builds, own KPIs, and implement practical improvements.

Qualifications

• 2+ years leading a labor-intensive production or assembly operation.
• Line balancing, labor planning, time studies, and standard work.
• Experience with audits, CAPA, SOPs, and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production across manual assembly and kitting lines.
• Spend ~90% on the production floor driving safety, quality, and schedule attainment.
• Plan labor and balance lines based on volume, content, and customer requirements.
• Own production KPIs including output, efficiency, waste, and safety.
• Improve productivity with line-balancing, time studies, and standard work.
• Collaborate with Quality and other functions on SOPs, CAPA, traceability, and audits.
• Communicate expectations and lead long-tenured teams with urgency.

Job description

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.
• 2+ years leading a labor‑intensive production, assembly, or fulfillment operation — running teams of associates to hourly throughput/piece-rate targets while maintaining quality standards. Examples include kitting, hand-pack, co‑packing, light assembly, food production, or pick‑pack fulfillment."
• 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.