Manufacturing Production Manager

Production Manager

Reports to: Director of Manufacturing
Location: Onsite – Newark, NJ
Schedule: Full-Time

Position Overview

A leading manufacturer of premium kitchen cabinetry, committed to operational excellence, product quality, and continuous improvement. We are looking for an experienced, emotionally intelligent Production Manager to lead one of our largest and most foundational departments — overseeing day-to-day operations across a 110-person team.

This role is essential to the success of our production line. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of lean manufacturing principles, and the ability to manage complexity while fostering a positive, high-performing culture. This is an opportunity to make a major impact in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management: Oversee a production team of 100+ employees, including supervisors, line leads, and operators. Set clear expectations, coach team members, and maintain a culture of accountability and respect.
• Production Oversight: Ensure daily production goals are met in terms of quality, output, and efficiency. Manage workflows to ensure consistent execution of tasks and minimize downtime.
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement: Drive operational excellence through lean manufacturing practices, root cause analysis, and ongoing process optimization.
• Communication & Coordination: Act as a central point of contact between production, scheduling, quality, logistics, and maintenance. Maintain clear, consistent communication to resolve issues quickly and proactively.
• Emotional Intelligence & Culture Building: Lead with empathy and awareness; support employee morale, manage interpersonal dynamics, and promote a strong team-oriented culture.
• Problem Solving Under Pressure: Tackle day-to-day challenges, anticipate bottlenecks, and ensure that any disruptions are resolved with minimal impact to delivery timelines.
• Health & Safety: Uphold safety standards and compliance protocols to ensure a safe working environment for all team members.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in production or manufacturing management, preferably in a high-volume environment.
• Strong understanding of production systems, line operations, and workflow optimization.
• Experience implementing or managing lean manufacturing principles.
• Proven ability to lead large teams with professionalism, empathy, and clarity.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and conflict resolution skills.
• Highly adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple moving parts and priorities.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a strong plus.