Production Manager

Production Manager  

The Role

We're seeking a Production Manager to lead and manage our production team, ensuring daily operations run safely, efficiently, and within budget while meeting customer commitments and timelines. Reporting to the VP of Operations and overseeing two Senior Team Leads, this role balances hands-on floor leadership with strategic planning — building production schedules, driving continuous improvement, and developing a high-performing team.

What You'll Do

• Coordinate and supervise daily production activities, meeting productivity requirements with allotted headcount while maintaining safety, quality, and financial requirements within required timelines.
• Set priorities for the production team based on business and customer needs, and partner with the Materials Manager to schedule production planning based on sales forecasts.
• Ensure adequate staffing for production processes, including reviewing attendance, PTO, and overtime, and building cross-training and rotation plans.
• Apply Lean principles to balance productivity and cost, minimizing overtime and downtime, and set productivity goals for each manufacturing team.
• Manage the full employee lifecycle for production personnel, including recruiting, training, goal setting, performance management, coaching, and succession planning.
• Communicate clearly across all levels of the organization and build strong cross-functional relationships with Materials, Quality, and other teams.
• Champion company policies and procedures, a speak-up culture, and the company's core values.
• Lead change initiatives, identifying and implementing improved processes, and recommend improvements to policies and procedures affecting the department.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in production management, including 3+ years in a supervisory/management role.
• Experience with production, materials, and inventory workflow, including Kanban systems.
• Lean Six Sigma experience and/or certification preferred.
• General business and financial knowledge, along with knowledge of manufacturing processes and vendor/facility logistics.
• Experience with a major MRP package; experience with Salesforce is a plus but not required.
• Strong analytical skills with Excel and other data query tools, including experience with cycle-time analysis.
• Ability to apply process mapping and other problem-solving tools to reduce cycle time, improve quality, and lower cost.

You'll Excel If You:

• Thrive on the production floor and bring energy, focus, and enthusiasm to fast-paced, hands-on leadership.
• Balance big-picture planning with day-to-day execution, adapting quickly as priorities shift.
• Bring strong interpersonal skills and enjoy coaching, developing, and holding a team accountable.
• Make sound, independent decisions within company procedures and guidelines.
• Are motivated by continuous improvement and driving measurable, sustained results.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to lead and shape a growing production team in a high-impact, visible role.
• Direct partnership with the VP of Operations to align production strategy with business growth.
• Autonomy to drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives across the production floor.
• Professional development and career growth within a company investing in operational excellence.
• Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.
• 4 days in office, 1 day remote.
• A mission-driven culture where your work directly supports IPA's purpose: improving infection prevention and operational efficiency in healthcare.

Why Join IPA?

At IPA, you're not just joining a company, you're joining a mission-driven, inclusive culture dedicated to improving infection prevention and operational efficiency in healthcare. We invest in our people with meaningful work, a collaborative environment, and benefits that support both your personal and professional success.

When you join IPA, you'll enjoy:

• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage: medical, dental, vision, and telemedicine
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions, plus optional FSA plans
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match to support your retirement goals
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) — own a piece of what you're building
• Tuition reimbursement to support continued learning and development
• Paid parental leave for when your family grows

At IPA, we believe your career should be both meaningful and sustainable. If you're ready to make a real-world impact and grow with a company that invests in you, we'd love to meet you.