APO Production Manager

Swisher stands at the forefront of innovation in the consumer products industry, blending a legacy of excellence with a forward-thinking approach. Established in 1861, the family-owned company has evolved into a trailblazer, renowned for its iconic Swisher Sweets cigars, cutting-edge American-made Rogue and Ammo modern oral nicotine products, and the premium Drew Estate cigar collection, which features ACID, Liga Privada, and Undercrown. Poised for the future, Swisher is redefining traditional categories with Volt+Co -home to groundbreaking products such as Mojo Energy Pouches. Swisher is also home to more than two dozen American-made, non-combustible tobacco brands under the Helme Tobacco Co. umbrella. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, with operations spanning the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua, Swisher continues to lead through innovation, setting new benchmarks in quality and creativity. Learn more at swisher.com.

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing manufacturing operations within assigned production areas, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of production activities. This role is accountable for production planning, workforce leadership, operational performance, quality execution, and continuous improvement initiatives that support customer demand and business objectives.

The Production Manager partners closely with Planning, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations leadership to ensure production schedules are executed efficiently, resources are optimized, and manufacturing performance meets organizational goals. This position plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, workforce development, safety performance, and sustainable business results within a fast-paced CPG manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute production plans to meet customer demand while optimizing labor, equipment, materials, and manufacturing resources to achieve production, service, quality, and cost objectives
• Collaborate with Planning, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, Quality, Engineering, and Maintenance teams to align production schedules with business priorities, inventory requirements, and customer expectations
• Lead and oversee daily production operations across assigned manufacturing areas, ensuring achievement of production schedules, output targets, quality standards, and customer service requirements
• Lead, mentor, and develop Operations Managers, Production Supervisors, Mechanics, Team Leads, and Operators, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Establish workforce plans and staffing strategies that support operational requirements while maximizing labor productivity and organizational effectiveness
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement by promoting employee involvement, operational discipline, and adherence to company values and expectations
• Ensure production processes comply with established quality standards, regulatory requirements, operating procedures, and manufacturing specifications
• Implement and monitor quality control measures, partnering with Quality Assurance teams to ensure products consistently meet or exceed customer and regulatory requirements
• Optimize resource allocation, including manpower, equipment, materials, and production capacity, to maximize efficiency, throughput, and operational performance
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials, packaging components, and production supplies while minimizing shortages and operational disruptions
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations Support teams to support implementation, optimization, and integration of ERP, MES, WMS, and manufacturing technologies that improve operational visibility and inventory accuracy
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, productivity, cost, inventory, labor utilization, waste reduction, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Analyze production data, operational trends, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation technologies, and operational excellence methodologies to improve productivity, reduce waste, and enhance manufacturing performance
• Lead cross-functional teams in implementing process improvements, equipment upgrades, automation projects, and operational changes that improve efficiency, quality, and throughput
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and support capital investment initiatives
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, environmental standards, and regulatory requirements, promoting a culture of safety awareness throughout the organization
• Investigate, document, and address safety incidents, near misses, operational disruptions, and quality concerns, ensuring appropriate corrective and preventive actions are implemented
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, labor plans, and operating expenses, identifying opportunities for cost reduction, waste elimination, and operational efficiency improvements while maintaining product quality and customer service levels
• Support new product introductions, process changes, capacity expansions, and operational growth initiatives by ensuring production readiness, workforce preparation, and execution alignment
• Provide regular reporting and performance updates to the Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations, identifying operational risks, opportunities, and strategic recommendations

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business Administration

• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing experience within a CPG, food, beverage, tobacco, pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing production supervisors, operations managers, maintenance personnel, or multiple production departments
• Demonstrated experience leading high-volume manufacturing operations and delivering results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and labor productivity metrics
• Strong knowledge of production planning, inventory management, manufacturing systems, workforce planning, and capacity management
• Experience leading Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Demonstrated experience managing operational budgets, labor planning, and cost-reduction initiatives
• Experience partnering with Supply Chain, Procurement, Planning, Engineering, and Quality teams to support production execution and customer fulfillment objectives
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills
• Excellent leadership, coaching, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Experience utilizing ERP, MRP, MES, WMS, and manufacturing reporting systems
• Travel: 20-30%

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business Administration
• Experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations supporting 100+ employees
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• Experience implementing manufacturing automation, ERP, WMS, or digital manufacturing initiatives
• Experience managing production operations within a unionized manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting new product introductions, capacity expansion projects, or large-scale operational transformations

What We Offer

• Base salary and bonus program
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance effective on date of hire
• Generous 401(k) Plan
• Defined Contribution Plan
• Paid vacation and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement

Official Contact Information

• Email: All official emails will come from an @Swisher.com address
• Website: Verify job listings and contact details on https://careers.swisher.com

Important: We will never contact you via Teams, Zoom, or Google Meets. If you qualify for an interview the proper meeting method will be shared with you beforehand. Confidential information should only be shared through secure methods outside of email.