PRODUCTION MANAGER

Job Summary

The Production Manager leads the overall performance of manufacturing operations, including safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, inventory, and employee engagement. The role establishes operational strategy, sets performance expectations, allocates resources, and drives continuous improvement to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing performance. The role partners with cross-functional leaders to develop organizational capability, support business growth, and achieve long-term operational objectives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction to Production Supervisors, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant execution of manufacturing operations.

• Establishes departmental goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with business objectives and customer requirements.

• Drives accountability for operational results related to safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, inventory accuracy, and employee engagement.

• Develops supervisors and future leaders through coaching, performance management, succession planning, talent development, and leadership-development initiatives.

• Develops and executes operational plans to support business objectives, capacity requirements, customer demand, and future growth initiatives.

• Reviews operational and business performance metrics to identify trends, drive accountability, and lead resolution of significant production, quality, safety, staffing, and operational issues to improve reliability, efficiency, and business results.

• Manages departmental budgets and workforce requirements while identifying opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, and reduce costs.

• Leads continuous-improvement and organizational-change initiatives utilizing continuous improvement tools and methodologies to improve safety, quality, service, productivity, and operational effectiveness.

• Performs other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or related field.

• 10 years of manufacturing experience in chemical or process manufacturing environments.

• 8 years of leadership experience supervising production operations in a manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated experience developing leaders and managing manufacturing operations through front-line supervisors.

• Experience utilizing operational metrics, KPIs, and financial data to drive business performance and decision-making.

• Experience managing departmental budgets, workforce planning, resource allocation, and performance metrics.

• Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing operations, process safety, quality systems, and operational excellence principles.

• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives and driving measurable operational improvements.

• Experience working with Microsoft Office and SAP.

• Requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing business needs, and operate effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to handle confidential information with integrity.

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate in a diverse team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in silicone, specialty chemical, batch, or other process-manufacturing operations.

• Knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM), environmental compliance, and regulatory requirements.

• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or operational-excellence certification.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, workshop, outdoor, and office environments, as required.

• Regular exposure to industrial conditions, including chemicals, dust, fumes, noise, vibration, temperature extremes, moving equipment, heights, and other plant hazards.

• Requires strict adherence to all company policies, safety procedures, and HSSE requirements, including the use of required personal protective equipment (PPE) in designated areas.

• Requires the ability to stand, sit, walk, climb, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, lift, and perform repetitive physical activities associated with operational and laboratory environments, including sample preparation, mixing, testing, and material handling.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to effectively observe work activities, read instruments, labels, screens, and safety information.

• Ability to communicate effectively and recognize visual and audible safety signals in the work environment.

• Ability to climb stairs and ladders and work at varying elevations.

• May require operation of equipment, machinery, tools, or forklifts, where trained, authorized, and certified.

• May require work outside normal business hours, including shift work, overtime, emergency response, shutdowns, audits, or other business needs.

• May require travel to support business operations.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.