Production Manager

Location: Springfield, IL

Salary: $100,000.00 USD Annually - $150,000.00 USD Annually

Description

Industry leading manufacturer in the Springfield, IL area is seeking a high-impact Production Manager with deep technical expertise in plastics extrusion or blow molding to lead their daily manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate combines hands-on processing knowledge with transformative leadership to drive cultural change, build high-performing teams, and execute continuous improvement initiatives. You will be responsible for driving operational excellence, reducing scrap, maximizing uptime, and building an accountable, safety-first workplace culture.

Responsibilities

• Operations Leadership: Oversee daily production on extrusion and/or blow molding lines to hit target output, profitability, on-time delivery, and quality standards.
• Drive Organizational Change: Champion continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma) to modernize processes, eliminate waste, and transform plant culture.
• Team Development & Coaching: Lead, mentor, and empower shift supervisors, technicians, and operators; set performance KPIs, resolve conflicts, and drive accountability across all shifts.
• Technical Process Optimization: Act as the subject matter expert in plastics processing (resin behavior, tooling, cycle times, wall thickness) to optimize parameters and troubleshoot complex issues.
• Safety & Compliance: Enforce strict adherence to safety (OSHA, EHS) regulations and quality management systems (ISO, SQF, or GMP) to ensure a safe, compliant work environment.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain to minimize unplanned downtime, implement preventive maintenance, and manage scrap rates.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of leadership/management experience in a plastics manufacturing facility, specifically with profile/sheet extrusion or extrusion/injection blow molding.
• Change Leadership: Proven track record of leading change management, improving employee engagement, and transforming plant culture.
• Continuous Improvement: Demonstrated hands‑on experience applying Lean Manufacturing, 5S, TPM, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) methodologies.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Plastics, Mechanical, Industrial) or Business Operations, or an equivalent combination of technical training and hands‑on manufacturing leadership.
• Technical & Business Acumen: Strong understanding of resin characteristics, machinery troubleshooting, labor management, operational budgeting, and ERP/MES software (e.g., IQMS, SAP).

Benefits

• Compensation: Competitive base salary with an annual performance-based bonus incentive.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Financial Security: 401(k) retirement plan with generous company matching, plus life and disability insurance.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO policy, paid sick leave, and company-paid holidays.
• Growth & Development: Tuition reimbursement programs, continuous technical training, and clear pathways for executive leadership advancement.