Production Manager

Production / Manufacturing ManagerThis role oversees first-shift manufacturing operations in a fast-paced, highly regulated production environment. You will lead daily plant activities, optimize production processes, and build an engaged, high-performing team focused on safety, quality, and on-time delivery. Partnering closely with Planning, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and Operations, you will drive operational efficiency, improve labor and equipment utilization, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.Responsibilities:Lead daily manufacturing operations to consistently achieve production targets, quality standards, safety expectations, employee productivity goals, and customer requirements.Develop and execute production plans that balance customer demand, labor availability, material readiness, operational capacity, throughput, cost, and service performance.Drive operational efficiency by improving line performance, optimizing labor utilization, increasing changeover effectiveness, enhancing material flow, reducing waste, and strengthening manufacturing cost performance.Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, cost, labor utilization, waste reduction, safety, quality, capacity, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, automation, standard work, and other operational excellence methodologies to improve manufacturing performance.Partner cross-functionally with Planning, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and Operations to align schedules, staffing, inventory, maintenance needs, quality priorities, and customer expectations.Build and lead an engaged team culture by hiring, training, coaching, and developing manufacturing employees and supervisors, reinforcing accountability, inclusion, respectful communication, and continuous improvement.Oversee and support supervisors and production teams, providing clear direction, performance feedback, and development opportunities to ensure strong leadership coverage on the floor.Address employee relations and performance matters in partnership with HR while promoting accountability, collaboration, and strong communication routines across shifts and departments.Support operational growth initiatives, including new product introductions, process changes, capacity expansions, automation projects, and production readiness efforts.Ensure safety, quality, and compliance by reinforcing safe work practices, regulatory expectations, proactive risk identification, adherence to product specifications, and employee ownership of safety and quality.Utilize ERP, MRP, MES, and WMS systems (SAP preferred) and manufacturing performance reporting tools to manage production schedules, inventory, labor planning, and operational metrics.Use Excel and Power BI to analyze data, track KPIs, generate performance reports, and drive data-based decision-making and problem-solving.Oversee manufacturing activities in assembly, fabrication, machine building, and related production processes to ensure efficient workflows and high-quality output.Collaborate with warehouse operations to ensure timely and accurate picking of parts for filtration systems and other custom orders, coordinating material availability for production.Promote a clean, organized, and safe work environment, ensuring that equipment, workstations, and material flows support efficient and high-quality operations.Maintain strong communication routines, including shift handoffs, daily production meetings, and regular updates with cross-functional partners to align priorities and resolve issues quickly.Essential Skills:Minimum of 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated environments.Proven experience overseeing manufacturing operations such as assembly, fabrication, machine building, or comparable production processes.Demonstrated ability to lead supervisors and production teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and to collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, safety regulations, quality standards, labor planning, cost management, and industry best practices.Track record of driving operational efficiency, continuous improvement, employee engagement, accountability, and change management.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven and metric-driven approach to decision-making.Excellent communication, organizational, and people leadership skills, with the ability to build trust and foster collaboration across teams.Hands-on experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred) and familiarity with MRP, MES, and WMS tools to support production and inventory management.Proficiency with Excel and Power BI for data analysis, KPI tracking, and manufacturing performance reporting.Ability to work on site five days per week, starting no later than 6:00 a.m. and departing no sooner than 3:00 p.m., with flexibility to oversee occasional Saturday overtime.Additional Skills & Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Engineering, Operations, or a related field preferred.Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, automation, and standard work methodologies.Background in highly regulated manufacturing environments such as CPG, food, beverage, or pharmaceutical production.Experience hiring, training, and developing manufacturing employees and supervisors, with a focus on building an engaged and accountable team culture.Comfort working with and interpreting KPIs related to productivity, cost, labor utilization, waste reduction, safety, quality, capacity, and OEE.Ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing customer demands, and support new product introductions and capacity expansions.Strong aptitude for cost management, including labor efficiency, material usage, and waste reduction.Why Work Here?You will join a clean, well-organized facility that offers a stable, long-term, and permanent opportunity on first shift. The organization provides strong benefits and values data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and employee engagement. You will be part of a collaborative culture that supports professional growth, encourages respectful communication, and offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on operations and team performance.Work Environment:This is a first-shift role, Monday through Friday, with a 6:00 a.m. start time and typical 8–10 hour days, including potential oversight of Saturday overtime as needed. The manufacturing area is described as very clean, with a focus on organized and efficient operations. The warehouse is a separate part of the building from manufacturing; it is not temperature controlled but remains very quiet, and the facility is large with six dock doors. Teams typically consist of about 15 people, with approximately five employees per shift, working together to pick parts for custom filtration systems, ranging from small components such as washers to larger metal or PBC parts. The environment emphasizes safety, quality, and productivity, supported by modern systems including ERP (SAP preferred), WMS, and data reporting tools such as Excel and Power BI.Job Type & Location:This is a Permanent position based out of Libertyville, IL.Pay and Benefits:The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $120000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.We offer competitive compensation including base & benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401(k), Paid time off, Additional voluntary benefitsWorkplace Type:This is a fully onsite position in Libertyville, IL.Application Deadline:This position is anticipated to close on Sep 9, 2026.