Demo

Production Manager

Sonoco
Sonoco Salary
Hickory, NC Full Time
POSTED ON 4/18/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/17/2026
From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, as a Production Manager, the position is accountable for safety, quality, on-time delivery, productivity, material handling, cost performance, employee training and relations in a high-performance work team environment, capital improvements and budget preparation. Job demands monitoring production performance and implementing processes, procedures, and methods to improve results in all key functional areas. Position is responsible for implementing and maintaining best manufacturing practices and regulatory compliance for all production activities.

What You'll Be Doing

  • Ensure the safety of all employees; lead a comprehensive safety program to prevent injuries. Comply with all federal, state, and local environmental and safety regulations (EPA, OSHA, etc.).
  • Develop subordinates through education, training, and teamwork.
  • Is responsible for motivation, support and guidance to all employees
  • Communicate problems and obstacles to the plant manager and the leadership team. Establish workflow policies that enhance speed and efficiency without compromising product safety or integrity
  • Create schedules for employees to ensure optimum staffing levels
  • Assist in preparation of annual plant operating budget. Meet or exceed plant productivity, cost, or other performance metric expectations as outlined by plant manager.
  • Assist in employee relations issues
  • Hire, train, direct and mentor staff and all plant employees with diverse language, cultural and educational background.
  • Lead plant in continuous improvement initiatives, such as 5S with safety, 6 Sigma, Kaizen events, and lean manufacturing.
  • Coordinate production scheduling to meet customer demands, to manage overtime, to minimize inventory, and to reduce costs.
  • Support quality initiatives to ensure product meets or exceeds customer expectations. Ensure employees complete required quality checks and audits.
  • Build and maintain productive employee relationships, driving employee satisfaction. Provide direction, training, and development as needed. Provide coaching, counseling, or discipline as needed. Recommend disciplinary action to plant manager and review disciplinary action by supervisors for effectiveness and consistency. Work with HR to address employee concerns and issues.
  • Identify, propose, and implement capital projects to improve operational performance.

This position is located in Hickory, NC.

We’d Love To Hear From You If

  • Associate degree or equivalent experience. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Proven record of safety leadership
  • Demonstrate a strong work ethic, with a dedication to employees remaining safe
  • Comfortable in public speaking and training large groups of coworkers
  • Minimum of 2 years of manufacturing experience or equivalent.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this role is from $122,960 to $138,330, plus a quarterly target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
  • Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
  • Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
  • Tuition reimbursement

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

Salary : $122,960 - $138,330

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Production Manager.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Automation Skill

    • Income Estimation: $119,912 - $160,327
    • Income Estimation: $121,698 - $159,889
  • Bilingual Skill

    • Income Estimation: $121,698 - $159,889
    • Income Estimation: $155,421 - $217,358
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Sonoco

  • Sonoco Hartselle, AL
  • Position: Production Associate Location: Hartselle, AL Wage: $24.33 Shift: M-F 4:00am – 2:30pm, with overtime as needed From a small family business to a m... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Sonoco Hartsville, SC
  • From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while k... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Sonoco Hartsville, SC
  • From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while k... more
  • 15 Days Ago

  • Sonoco Hartsville, SC
  • From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while k... more
  • 15 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Production Manager jobs in the Hickory, NC area that may be a better fit.

  • GSM Services Gastonia, NC
  • Are you looking for a reputable, stable company with supportive management who will value what you bring to the organization? If you are a self-motivated i... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Profile Products and Careers Conover, NC
  • Position Summary The Operations Manager is responsible for the successful development and implementation of Profile Products Manufacturing operational plan... more
  • 28 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!