Production Manager

Production Manager

Location: Aiken / North Augusta, SC (on-site, limited travel)

Department: Workshop / Assembly (in close coordination with Service)

Reports to: Country Manager

Direct reports: 3 technicians to start (team expected to grow)

About the role

Our Client designs and delivers special-purpose machines for vegetation management—highly engineered systems with strong electronics, hydraulics, and mechanical content. We’re seeking a hands-on Production Manager to run the shop floor, standardize processes, coach technicians, and partner at peer level with their Service Manager. Success means safer, faster, higher-quality deliveries and a well-organized knowledge base that reduces repeat issues and accelerates growth.

Key responsibilities

(Your responsibilities will include mainly, but not limited to:)

• Plan & lead workshop operations: determine priorities, assign work orders, schedule and balance workload; ensure on-time completion and quality.
• Hands-on technical leadership: assign, supervise, and participate in major/minor mechanical repairs and assembly activities on machines and related equipment.
• Electronics & hydraulics troubleshooting: read electrical/hydraulic schematics; diagnose issues; perform root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Equipment set-up & PDI: read work orders to prepare equipment set-ups; process PDI on new equipment before delivery.
• Installations & field support: handle on-site installation, repair, maintenance and testing tasks; provide field support to dealers/end users when needed.
• Documentation & reporting: maintain accurate records of all shop activities; provide the Service Manager with timely, detailed service reports; build and curate a shared, searchable knowledge base (schematics, solutions, SOPs).
• Training & safety: conduct maintenance and safety training for all employees (including new hires); promote 5S/lean practices and safe tool usage.
• Tooling & facilities: monitor tool usage, calibration/maintenance and general safety practices; support vehicle and warehouse maintenance; cleaning and organizing the warehouse/shop areas.
• Dealer enablement: support sales with dealer technician training on products; contribute to training video creation and product set-up guidelines.
• Cross-functional coordination: work as peer with the Service Manager; collaborate with Sales/Training for demos and deliveries; liaise with HQ Italy (documentation, issues escalation).
• Customer focus: build positive relationships with colleagues, dealers and customers; drive first-time-fix and quality metrics.

What you’ll bring

• 7 years in workshop/assembly or field service on off-highway / construction / agricultural machinery or similar industries.
• Strong electronics (priority) and hydraulics competence; solid mechanical skills. Able to read electrical and hydraulic schematics and perform advanced diagnostics.
• Proven shop-floor leadership (assigning, coaching, enforcing standards) with a hands-on mindset.
• Working knowledge of basic IT tools (file management, shared folders, Excel “ABC”), and comfort creating/maintaining documentation.
• Clear, direct communicator; able to collaborate with U.S. teams and Italian HQ (Italian language is a strong plus).
• Organized, safety-minded, and rigorous; capable of introducing simple lean/5S practices.
• Ability to lift and work around industrial equipment; occasional travel as needed.

Nice to have

• Background with dealer networks and technician training.
• Prior military or similar disciplined environment experience.
• Italian language and/or prior collaboration with Italian companies.

Compensation & benefits

• Competitive salary
• Benefits package
• Relocation assistance considered
• Clear growth path as the company scale assembly volumes and the team (3-4 techs in the near term).