Production Manager (Manufacturing)

Children's Factory; Union (MO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 Paid Holidays

Generous PTO accrual

Paid parental leave

Volunteer time off

401(k) company match

Educational assistance

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Children's Factory is seeking a hands-on Production Manager to lead daily operations across multiple production lines in a manufacturing environment. The role emphasizes coordinating labor, resources, and schedules while sustaining safety, quality, and productivity targets.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in manufacturing, with at least two years supervising multiple lines, and a track record of coaching frontline teams. Strong Lean and ERP experience is preferred; bachelor’s degree required.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily operations across multiple production lines.
• Set clear expectations for production employees and hold teams accountable for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Plan labor and resources to support production schedules, adjusting staffing and priorities as conditions change.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and respond quickly to operational issues.
• Monitor output, scrap, downtime, and labor‑efficiency metrics, then take action to improve performance.
• Train, coach, and develop production employees and frontline leaders.
• Reinforce safety policies, conduct daily safety checks, and support incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Partner with Quality to address nonconforming products and maintain established standards.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to resolve equipment issues and reduce downtime.
• Support practical continuous‑improvement efforts, including 5S, lean practices, standard work, waste reduction, and process improvement.
• Translate financial and business objectives into actionable production plans.
• Communicate production performance, priorities, risks, and issues to management and cross-functional partners.
• Maintain accurate production records and prepare required reports.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, ownership, and urgency throughout the production operation.

Skills

Leadership

Production scheduling

Communication

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Safety compliance

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Industrial Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering or Technology

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Job description

Production Manager (Manufacturing)

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Children's Factory is seeking a hands-on Production Manager with strong experience leading people and performance across multiple production lines.

The position is focused on daily production-floor leadership: coordinating labor and resources, keeping multiple lines on schedule, developing frontline teams, resolving operational issues, and delivering results across safety, quality, output, cost, and efficiency.

The ideal candidate has spent several years in a manufacturing or production environment and has at least two years of direct responsibility for leading multiple production lines.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:

The Production Manager helps turn production goals and financial objectives into clear daily priorities for the floor. Your leadership will directly influence whether teams have the direction, staffing, resources, and accountability needed to meet production commitments.

You will play a key role in:

• Keeping multiple production lines operating safely and efficiently
• Building capable, accountable production teams
• Improving output, labor efficiency, scrap, and downtime
• Responding quickly to changing schedules and production issues
• Partnering with Quality, Maintenance, and other teams to keep work moving
• Creating a positive, collaborative environment while maintaining clear performance expectations

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Lead and coordinate daily operations across multiple production lines.
• Set clear expectations for production employees and hold teams accountable for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Plan labor and resources to support production schedules, adjusting staffing and priorities as conditions change.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and respond quickly to operational issues.
• Monitor output, scrap, downtime, and labor‑efficiency metrics, then take action to improve performance.
• Train, coach, and develop production employees and frontline leaders.
• Reinforce safety policies, conduct daily safety checks, and support incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Partner with Quality to address nonconforming products and maintain established standards.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to resolve equipment issues and reduce downtime.
• Support practical continuous‑improvement efforts, including 5S, lean practices, standard work, waste reduction, and process improvement.
• Translate financial and business objectives into actionable production plans.
• Communicate production performance, priorities, risks, and issues to management and cross-functional partners.
• Maintain accurate production records and prepare required reports.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, ownership, and urgency throughout the production operation.

ABOUT YOU:

• You have 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• You have at least two years of direct experience leading multiple production lines.
• You have demonstrated success supervising, coaching, and developing production employees.
• You understand how to balance labor, schedules, equipment, quality, and production priorities in a fast‑paced operation.
• You use production metrics to identify problems, improve performance, and hold teams accountable.
• You are comfortable making real‑time decisions on the floor and following through on commitments.
• You have experience with lean manufacturing principles and continuous‑improvement methods.
• You understand safety regulations, quality‑control standards, and the importance of consistent compliance.
• You communicate clearly with frontline employees, leadership, and cross‑functional teams.
• You are proficient with Microsoft Office and have experience using manufacturing or ERP systems.
• You hold a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering or Technology, or a related field.

WHY JOIN US:

• Be Part of a Dynamic, Supportive Team: We value collaboration and celebrate success together.
• Grow Your Career: We support professional development and offer opportunities to expand your skills.
• Make an Impact: Your work will contribute to making a difference in the lives of children, educators, and parents around the world by supporting the financial health of a company that creates innovative and educational products that inspire learning and creativity.
• Enjoy Competitive Benefits, Including:
  • 12 Paid Holidays: Including Christmas Eve and the Day After Thanksgiving so you can enjoy more time with family.
  • Generous PTO Accrual: Because work‑life balance matters.
  • Paid Parental Leave: Support for growing families.
  • Volunteer Time Off: Give back to the community while getting paid.
  • Generous 401(k) Company Match: Helping you plan for your future.
  • Educational Assistance: Invest in your career growth with tuition reimbursement.
  • Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting the first of the month following your date of hire.

WHO WE ARE

At Children's Factory, we create inspired spaces for imagination and learning. For over 40 years, we've been a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality products for child development centers, preschools, and elementary education.

Simply put- We provide GROWN UPS with the products and resources KIDS need to inspire imagination, build confidence, and develop lifelong learning skills. We do more than just make great products. We make a positive impact on the lives of the children and educators who use them.

Each and every member of our team plays a pivotal role in helping children all over the world thrive and discover their full potential. We are looking for problem solvers, difference makers, and challenge takers. People who share our passion for education, and who want to make a difference in the world.

Children's Factory is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Children's Factory is an Excelligence Company. Excelligence is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants and other covered persons without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, religion or creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws.