Production Manager

Production ManagerPosition Title: Production ManagerReports to: U.S. Operations ManagerLocation: Mokena, IL or Richton Park, IL (Division Manufacturing Sites)Team Led: 2nd- and 3rd-shift Production Supervisors, plus Team Leads, Setup Technicians, Material Handlers, and production operatorsThe OpportunityOur client is a division of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer with roughly $14B in global revenue, operations in 57 countries, and a portfolio of more than 16,000 active patents. Within that global enterprise, this division is a focused, ~$160M automotive business serving major OEMs across North America, engineering and manufacturing housing units, vehicle doors, capless fuel systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charge ports.The division operates multiple manufacturing locations across the U.S. and Mexico. This role is based at either of the division's Mokena, IL or Richton Park, IL facilities, running injection molding and assembly operations across all three shifts. As the business modernizes its operations and pursues renewed growth, it needs a hands-on Production Manager who can own the floor, drive performance, and build the next generation of shop-floor leadership.Own the floor. Own the numbers. Build the team.This is not a back-office role — it's a highly visible, hands-on leadership position at the center of daily plant performance. You'll be the primary link between shifts, the first point of contact when something goes wrong, and the person accountable for turning safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets into daily reality. If you want a role where your decisions show up on the floor and in the P&L the same day, keep reading.Why This Role Is DifferentHigh-visibility ownership — full P&L accountability for assigned cost centers, not just a supporting role in someone else's numbersBacked by Fortune 500 scale — the resources, tooling, and career runway of a global industrial leader, with the pace and accountability of plant-floor leadershipBroad scope, real authority — hiring, disciplinary, and spending authority within approved limits, plus direct management of Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and Setup TechniciansA proven leadership pipeline — production leadership roles within this organization are a recognized path into plant management and multi-site operations leadershipImmediate impact — from shift handoffs to changeover performance to conversion cost, the opportunities to make a visible difference start on day oneWhat You'll OwnDaily Operations LeadershipExecute daily production operations across all three shifts to meet safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and customer requirementsServe as the primary point of contact for the assigned location, including off-shift, weekend, and holiday operational escalationsMaintain high visibility and an active leadership presence on the shop floorServe as the primary link between shifts and functions, ensuring consistent priorities, effective shift handoffs, clear ownership, timely escalation, and follow-through on operational issuesDirectly lead first-shift production operations and manage the second- and third-shift Production SupervisorsTeam & Talent LeadershipLead, coach, and hold accountable Production Supervisors, Team Leads, Setup Technicians, Material Handlers, and production operators — a true leader of leaders on the floorHold hiring, disciplinary, and spending authority within approved limitsDevelop Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and operators through clear expectations, coaching, performance feedback, and succession planningBuild bench strength on the floor as the organization brings along the next generation of manufacturing talentFinancial & Cost OwnershipOwn full P&L accountability for the financial performance of assigned cost centers and their contribution to the plant's overall financial performanceControl and improve conversion costs, including:Direct and indirect laborOvertimeScrapPremium freightVariable inventory costsExternal sortingDirectly manage production schedules, labor allocation, staffing levels, overtime, and resource priorities; maintain a forward-looking production and labor plan to reduce shortage-driven scheduling and avoidable overtimeQuality, Process & Continuous ImprovementIdentify and resolve immediate operational issues that could affect production, quality, staffing, cost, or deliveryPartner with Quality and Engineering to resolve production quality concerns, establish clear acceptance standards, contain questionable product, and ensure formal disposition before production or shipment continuesEnsure process changes, automation modifications, production startups, and restarts are properly evaluated, validated, documented, and communicated across all shiftsDrive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, reduce waste, improve quality, strengthen standard work, and reinforce operational discipline and accountabilitySet priorities and partner with other leaders to hold technical and other resources accountable for resolving downtime, cycle-time losses, process instability, quality concerns, changeover issues, and other production constraintsSafety, Performance & RepresentationOwn safety performance and culture; ensure compliance with safety requirements, quality standards, work instructions, company policies, and applicable regulationsReview daily performance metrics, identify gaps, establish corrective actions, assign clear ownership and due dates, and escalate significant risksPartner with Quality, Materials, Maintenance, Engineering, and Human Resources to address operational constraints and ensure timely resolutionRepresent the plant to customers, auditors, and corporate leadership as requiredWhat Success Looks Like in Year OneSafety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are consistently met across all three shiftsShift handoffs are smooth, priorities are consistent, and escalations are resolved quickly and closed outConversion costs — labor, overtime, scrap, premium freight, and external sorting — trend down as standard work and accountability take holdProduction Supervisors and Team Leads are developing, with a visible bench for the next level of leadershipThe production and labor plan is stable enough to meaningfully reduce shortage-driven scheduling and last-minute changesWhat You BringBachelor's degree in operations, engineering, business, or a related field preferredFive or more years of manufacturing leadership experience, including direct supervision of front-line leaders, P&L ownership, and multi-shift operationsExperience directly leading production and production-support functions in a lean manufacturing environmentExperience managing production schedules, labor, overtime, cost centers, and operational performanceWorking knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality systems, standard work, and production metricsStrong problem-solving, communication, leadership, and employee-accountability skillsAbility to interpret operational and financial data and convert findings into clear actionsAutomotive, injection molding, automated assembly, or other high-volume manufacturing experience preferredLeadership Capabilities We're Looking ForOperational & Shift LeadershipAccountability & Execution DisciplinePeople Development & Team BuildingContinuous Improvement & Results OrientationCommunication & Cross-Functional PartnershipWhy You'll Want to StayThis division offers what's rare in plant-floor leadership today: the backing and stability of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer, paired with the pace and visibility of a hands-on production leadership role. Production leadership roles within this organization are a recognized pipeline into plant management and multi-site operations leadership — and with clear ownership over safety, quality, delivery, and cost, the opportunities to make your mark start on day one.