Production Manager, Zelisko USA

Knorr Bremse Group; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 117,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group healthcare plans

401k plan

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Stock purchase plan

Job summary

Zelisko USA is seeking a Production Manager to lead all daily production activities at our Springfield site. You will ensure safety, quality, on-time delivery, and cost targets while driving Lean improvements and coordinating with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams.

Strong leadership and experience in high-volume manufacturing are required. The role offers an on-site work arrangement with competitive compensation, benefits, and growth opportunities within the Knorr-Bremse Group

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or related technical discipline.
• Experience leading production teams and achieving operational performance targets.
• Experience in process optimization, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all daily production activities to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards and with corporate manufacturing standards.
• Manage resources including personnel, equipment, materials, and capacity planning for efficiency.
• Develop and monitor production schedules aligned with customer demand and business needs.
• Drive productivity, KPIs, and continuous improvement through Lean practices.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, Maintenance, Quality, and Project Management to ensure smooth operations.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

ERP systems

Production planning

Capacity management

Analytical

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Quality & HSE

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Production Manager, Zelisko USA
LOCATION: Springfield/ United States | BRAND: Zelisko | REQUISITION ID: 11563|ON-SITE/REMOTE:On-site

Zelisko GmbH is a subsidiary of the Knorr-Bremse GmbH specialized in energy, traffic engineering and ticket printers. Wouldn’t it be great to play an active part in shaping the future of mobility? For our location in Mödling we are looking for.

Location: [Springfield]
Reporting Line: [Director Production / Director Production]

Position Summary

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing all production activities to ensure the efficient, safe, and cost-effective manufacture of products while meeting quality, delivery, and productivity targets. The role manages production operations, develops high-performing teams, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and ensures compliance with all safety, quality, and environmental standards. Working closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, and other departments, the Production Manager plays a key role in achieving operational excellence and supporting business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, plan, and oversee all daily production activities to ensure the achievement of safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Ensure compliance with corporate manufacturing standards, local safety regulations, HSE requirements, and applicable legal obligations.
• Manage production resources, including personnel, equipment, materials, and capacity planning, to maximize operational efficiency.
• Develop and monitor production schedules in alignment with customer demand and business requirements.
• Drive the achievement of production targets, productivity goals, and operational KPIs.
• Continuously improve manufacturing processes, workflows, and production systems to increase efficiency, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, Maintenance, Quality, and Project Management to ensure seamless production operations.
• Analyze production performance and implement corrective and preventive actions to address operational challenges.
• Manage and control production-related costs in line with departmental budgets and business objectives.
• Support the planning and implementation of manufacturing investments, equipment upgrades, and process improvement projects.
• Ensure effective maintenance coordination to maximize equipment availability and production uptime.
• Lead, coach, and develop production teams and supervisors to build a high-performance and safety-focused culture.
• Monitor workforce planning, staffing levels, training requirements, and employee development initiatives.
• Support the introduction of new products, technologies, and manufacturing processes.
• Supervise contractor activities within production areas and ensure adherence to safety and quality standards.
• Prepare and present manufacturing reports, KPI analyses, and performance updates to management.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, operational excellence, and employee engagement initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Additional qualifications in Production Management or Lean Manufacturing are considered an advantage.

Experience

• Several years of leadership experience in production management within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proven track record of managing production teams and achieving operational performance targets.
• Experience in process optimization, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Experience working in a high-volume or technically complex production environment is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, production planning, capacity management, and operational excellence principles.
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with ERP systems and production management tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Good understanding of quality management systems and HSE requirements.
• Financial awareness with experience managing production budgets and operational costs.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and develop teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Results-oriented with a strong focus on execution and accountability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proactive, hands-on, and solution-oriented mindset.

Additional Requirements

• Fluent English language skills; additional languages are considered an advantage.

Training Austria

Yes, 2-3 months.

Please note: At this time, we are not able to offer immigration sponsorship for new hires. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

• The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in Springfield is $117,000 to $175,600 per year.
• The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within the job, the type of years and experience within the industry and education.
• Zelisko is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect positions that work in other states or locations.
• Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and disability insurance.
• Employees also will be able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan.
• Employees will also receive 120 hours of vacation leave and 40 hours of Personal Paid Absence every year.
• Employees also enjoy 12 paid holidays, and 1 floating holiday throughout the calendar year, subject to relevant terms outlined in the employee handbook.
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave will also be available for use.
• Requirements for these benefits will be controlled by applicable plan documents and policies.
• Employees working on federal contracts covered by the Federal Paid Sick Leave requirements will be notified and will receive benefits consistent and compliant with the FPSL requirements.
• Hired applicant will be able to purchase company stock, subject to the relevant plan documents and annual bonuses based on achievement of certain metrics of up to 4% of annual salary.
• This is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies.
• Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The minimum salary for this position is EUR XXXX gross monthly or more depending on qualifications and experience.

WHAT WE OFFER

Continuous innovation pushes the technological progress of our systems, which are geared towards quality, safety and reliability, and distinguishes us as an internationally reliable partner.
We offer you an exciting and varied job in an international environment as well as an attractive set of benefits. These range from flexible working time models through professional and personal development opportunities to sports and health care programmes.