Production Manager

Job Title: Production Manager

Job Description

The Production Manager oversees day-to-day manufacturing operations across 1st and 2nd shifts, with a primary presence on 1st shift hours. This role ensures a safe work environment, drives production efficiency, maintains high quality standards, and leads a team-focused culture of continuous improvement within a CNC machining and contract manufacturing setting.

Pay : Compensating up to $120,000 per year, potentially more with supporting skills/experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a safe working environment and maintain strict compliance with all safety regulations and procedures.
• Manage production load and scheduling across 1st and 2nd shifts to meet deadlines while maintaining consistent product quality.
• Lead process improvement initiatives to increase productivity, reduce waste, and optimize resource utilization.
• Oversee labor allocation, material usage, and equipment utilization to achieve production goals in a cost-effective manner.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement within the production team, encouraging new ideas and best practices.
• Coordinate and expedite manufacturing orders throughout the facility to ensure on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Plan for future production needs, including capacity planning and resource forecasting to support growth and demand fluctuations.
• Motivate, coach, and develop team members to achieve performance targets and maintain a positive, collaborative work culture.
• Define, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to track production efficiency, quality, and delivery performance.
• Collaborate closely with Production Control, Sales, Quality, and other department leaders to set priorities and communicate order status.
• Work with Production Department Leads and Engineering to troubleshoot production issues and support equipment maintenance and reliability.
• Serve as second-in-command to the Plant Manager, escalating issues when necessary and supporting plant-wide operations and initiatives.
• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure data integrity within the ERP manufacturing system for scheduling, reporting, and traceability.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in production planning and resource management, preferably within CNC machining and contract manufacturing environments.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in people management, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
• Hands-on leadership style with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in ERP systems for production planning, scheduling, and reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, for reporting and documentation.
• Strong leadership abilities with a proven track record of guiding teams toward operational goals.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate across production, engineering, sales, and quality teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Proficiency in data analysis and process improvement methodologies to drive operational excellence.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Experience supervising production operations, including oversight of CNC-based processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in CNC machining operations and contract manufacturing is highly preferred.
• Experience with Continuous Improvement methodologies, such as LEAN or Six Sigma, is preferred.
• Experience in leading or participating in process improvement projects within a manufacturing setting.
• Ability to drive cross-functional collaboration across sales, engineering, production, and quality teams.
• Familiarity with supervising CNC operations and applying LEAN or Six Sigma principles to improve throughput and quality.

Why Work Here?

You will join a manufacturing organization that values safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement. The environment encourages innovation, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration, giving you the opportunity to shape production processes and influence operational strategy. You will work closely with leadership, gain broad exposure to plant-wide operations, and have the opportunity to develop your career in a setting that recognizes initiative, leadership, and results.

Work Environment

This role operates in a manufacturing facility with CNC machining and contract manufacturing operations. The Production Manager oversees both 1st and 2nd shifts, with most time spent on 1st shift while maintaining oversight of 2nd shift activities. The environment is fast-paced and production-driven, requiring frequent interaction on the shop floor, coordination with multiple departments, and use of ERP systems and Microsoft Office tools for planning and reporting. The facility emphasizes safety, structured processes, and continuous improvement, and the position involves hands-on engagement with production teams and equipment.

This is a Permanent position based out of Libertyville, IL.

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $120000.00/yr.

Great benefits. 80 hours of PTO to start, 120 hours after 5 years. They get 120 total hours of PTO/Sick time right away. There is also a 10% bonus

This is a fully onsite position in Libertyville,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on May 26, 2026.

About Aerotek

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.