Production Manager – 1st Shift
Location: Port Washington
Schedule: 1st Shift
Salary: $70,000 – $90,000 per year
We are seeking a hands-on, floor-driven Production Manager with proven experience in high-speed, high-volume, multi-SKU consumer products manufacturing. This leadership role is ideal for an individual who thrives in fast-paced production environments and has a strong track record of driving operational performance, productivity, quality, and team accountability. The ideal candidate will be a visible leader on the production floor, capable of making real-time decisions, adapting quickly to changing priorities, and leading teams with urgency and precision.
This is not a desk-based role. Candidates must have a minimum of 3+ years of manufacturing leadership experience with direct responsibility for frontline teams, labor deployment, and daily production execution. Experience managing multi-SKU operations is required; candidates from single-product or long-run manufacturing environments will not be considered.
Leadership Profile
- Leads by example with a strong hands-on presence on the production floor
- Builds high-performing teams through coaching, accountability, and employee development
- Confident decision-maker in fast-paced, high-pressure manufacturing environments
- Demonstrates a continuous improvement mindset focused on efficiency and operational excellence
- Balances strong people leadership with operational discipline and execution
Key Responsibilities
- Lead daily production operations in a high-speed, multi-SKU consumer products manufacturing environment
- Ensure alignment between production and warehouse operations to support throughput, inventory accuracy, and customer fulfillment
- Maintain and promote a strong safety culture throughout the facility
- Drive compliance with quality standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements
- Optimize production line efficiencies, labor productivity, and waste reduction initiatives
- Develop staffing models and deploy labor effectively to meet production schedules and changing demand
- Monitor production performance against standards and identify improvement opportunities
- Support and lead new product launches, line trials, and customer visits
- Collaborate cross-functionally with warehouse, planning, maintenance, quality, and leadership teams
- Build and maintain a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
- Coach, train, and develop supervisors and frontline leaders through performance management and leadership development
- Uphold company policies, procedures, and strong workplace ethics
Qualifications
- Minimum 3+ years of manufacturing leadership experience required
- Experience in high-speed, high-volume, multi-SKU manufacturing environments required
- Strong leadership, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Experience managing frontline production teams and labor deployment
- Ability to adapt quickly and execute effectively in changing production environments
- Proven ability to drive productivity, quality, and operational performance
- Continuous improvement and process optimization experience preferred
Preferred Skills
- Production Operations Management
- Labor Planning & Workforce Deployment
- Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
- Safety & Quality Compliance
- Inventory & Throughput Coordination
- Team Leadership & Coaching
- Production Scheduling & Efficiency Monitoring
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- High-Volume Manufacturing Operations
- Performance Management & Accountability