Production Manager

Zoltek, a subsidiary of Toray Group, is a world leader in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of industrial grade carbon fiber. Our mission is to lead the commercialization of carbon fiber through our development of a price-competitive, high-performance reinforcement for composites used in a broad range of commercial products. Carbon fiber-reinforced composites are remarkable in their performance characteristics and properties that include high strength, low weight, high stiffness, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and electrical conductivity. As a growing global corporation, we believe that every employee makes an important contribution to the overall success of the company; therefore our objective is to offer an excellent working environment in which all of us can take pride while providing the highest quality products and services to our customers. We currently employ over 2,000 employees at manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico, and Hungary, and our sales and distribution network is worldwide. For current openings in the United States please see the list below and for our international opportunities please use the links above. Equal Opportunity Information Zoltek is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and prohibits discrimination based on any protected status, workplace harassment/bullying and retaliation for filing a complaint or providing information related to a complaint. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and medical related conditions), age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws. Zoltek’s policy to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans (including but not limited to, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans). If you are an applicant with a disability and require assistance in the job application process, we invite you to request a reasonable accommodation. Please provide us with your name and contact information by email (View email address on click.appcast.io) or contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io. We will respond to your request as soon as possible. Please note: we will only respond to requests relative to accommodations for the job application process. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws Production Manager Location: MRP - St. Charles, MO Reports to: Plant Manager II Date: May 26, 2026 Consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership skills. Uses professionalism and sound judgment in employee relations and mentoring to foster the production of a quality product in a safe environment. Provides exceptional customer service to employees, external customers, and vendors, and leads by example. Responsibilities Ensures all personnel correctly use PPE and safety devices. Maintains a safe, ethical, and clean work environment. Maintains knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety procedures, including emergency shutdown, power loss, and evacuation procedures. Maintains quality and safety on the shift by enforcing and monitoring established standards and procedures. Accomplishes production goals by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; and coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees. Executes the production plan by scheduling and assigning personnel, establishing priorities, monitoring progress, revising schedules, resolving problems, accomplishing work results, and reporting shift production results through the shift summary report. Evaluates shift leads and foremen for proficiency in performing the job and provides feedback. Ensures operators receive the training necessary to become proficient in applicable areas. Works with shift foremen to ensure untrained operators are paired with experienced personnel, mentors, and/or leads. Communicates safety or quality issues and completes all production reporting in a timely manner. Verifies the accuracy and timely completion of all paperwork, whether electronic or manual. Drives root cause analysis and corrective actions to reduce waste, scrap, and downtime. Resolves personnel issues by investigating concerns, analyzing data, identifying solutions, and recommending actions. Maintains employee daily attendance records and daily production records. May occasionally attend skill-specific training sessions and apply the skills acquired. Performs other duties as required. Qualifications 1–3 years of manufacturing supervisory experience. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a technical equivalent preferred. Knowledge of process improvement techniques, with lean manufacturing or Six Sigma preferred. Leadership and management skills, as well as technical competence and project management skills. Strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop and engage a team of professionals while leading through complex change and driving toward a clear vision. Excellent training, coaching, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate personnel at all levels. Highly motivated and self-directed. Strong organizational and documentation skills. Computer skills: Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel. The plant work environment is not air-conditioned and may be HOT and HUMID. Handling carbon fiber may cause mild irritation. In some cases, dust may cause allergic skin reactions. The environment may be moderately dirty due to the materials and machinery handled. Excessive fly may be present. Strong odors may be present. Physical Requirements Good finger and manual dexterity. Ability to lift, turn, bend, squat, kneel, reach, pull, walk, or stand for extended periods. Ability to tolerate heat and wear a dust mask and/or gloves as needed. Ability to tolerate itchy material. Ability to lift, push, and pull 50+ pounds. Ability to ascend and descend a flight of stairs several times per day. Safety Tasks related to environmental management, occupational health and safety management, and energy management include: handling chemicals according to the safety data sheets available at the workplace. Collecting hazardous and non-hazardous waste separately at work. Complying with occupational health and safety management standards and, when necessary, ensuring colleagues and subcontractors comply with OSHA standards. Reporting non-compliance related to environmental protection, occupational health, and safety to the direct supervisor. Contributing to improvements in the efficiency of environmental management and occupational health and safety management. Zoltek is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr Zoltek-Toray Group