Production Manager - Contract Packaging and Manufacturing Operat

About the Role
We are seeking a hands-on Production Manager to lead daily contract packaging and manufacturing operations. This role oversees production lines, staffing, quality, inventory control, and coordination of shipping and receiving to meet customer requirements and delivery schedules. The successful candidate will spend time on the production floor, develop employees, resolve operating problems, and maintain accurate production and inventory records.

Schedule - Mon thru Thurs
Hours - 7 AM - 5:30 PM
Key Responsibilities

Production Planning and Line Operations

• Plan daily and weekly production schedules around customer orders, material availability, staffing, equipment capacity, and shipping deadlines.
• Oversee filling, packaging, assembly, labeling, and packout activities. Set up new jobs, establish line layouts and staffing, and communicate production targets and work instructions.
• Ensure equipment, materials, packaging components, and personnel are ready before startup. Coordinate changeovers, line clearance, replenishment, and preparation for the next shift.
• Monitor hourly output, downtime, labor utilization, scrap, and rework. Adjust line assignments and resolve bottlenecks while maintaining safety and product quality.

Team Leadership

• Lead supervisors, line leaders, and production employees; communicate daily priorities and maintain clear accountability for results.
• Coordinate staffing needs, including temporary labor, with management and staffing partners. Train and cross-train employees on job requirements, equipment procedures, and quality expectations.
• Coach employees, address performance concerns, support hiring and performance reviews, and conduct effective shift handoffs and team meetings.

Quality Safety and Equipment Readiness

• Ensure required quality checks are completed and documented, including product identification, quantities, packaging, labeling, and lot codes. Contain nonconforming product and coordinate corrective action with quality personnel.
• Support the quality management system through current SOPs and work instructions, controlled documents, complete quality records, and employee training. Assist with audits, root-cause investigations, and corrective and preventive actions; verify assigned actions are completed and effective.
• Maintain a clean, organized workplace and enforce established safety, sanitation, and operating procedures. Identify hazards and address unsafe conditions promptly.
• Coordinate equipment repairs and preventive maintenance with appropriate personnel. Verify production lines and material-handling equipment are ready for safe operation.

Inventory Shipping and Receiving

• Coordinate inbound receipts, material staging, finished-goods availability, and outbound shipments with warehouse personnel to support production and customer commitments.
• Verify inbound and outbound records for accurate item numbers, purchase orders, delivery references, quantities, pallets, lot information, and destinations. Ensure bills of lading and other required shipping documents are complete.
• Maintain accurate raw-material, packaging, work-in-process, and finished-goods inventory. Preserve lot traceability through bulk production, storage, and final packout.
• Reconcile material usage, production totals, inventory movements, and job balances. Investigate shortages and discrepancies and coordinate approved corrections.
• Track open orders and stock transfers through shipment confirmation. Reconcile shipping records with order trackers and inventory systems to prevent duplicate commitments and outdated balances.

Reporting and Operational Coordination

• Create and maintain production jobs in manufacturing systems and spreadsheets. Ensure hourly and daily production, labor hours, quality records, and job closeouts are accurate and completed on time.
• Review productivity and operating results with management. Recommend practical improvements that reduce downtime, waste, and unnecessary labor while improving schedule performance.
• Communicate order status, material shortages, quality concerns, and schedule changes to management, office staff, and customer contacts as assigned. Provide accurate operating records to support customer reporting and billing.
• Coordinate outside packaging work when assigned. Oversee designated opening, closing, equipment shutdown, and facility security procedures.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising production teams in manufacturing, contract packaging, filling, assembly, or a related operation.
• Experience working within a quality management system (QMS), including SOPs, document control, nonconformance reporting, root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), and audit support.
• Practical knowledge of production scheduling, line setup, staffing, quality control, inventory management, and shipping and receiving.
• Ability to interpret work orders and customer specifications, analyze production and labor data, and resolve operating problems.
• Strong leadership, organization, communication, and follow-through, with the ability to manage changing priorities.
• Comfort using production or inventory software and spreadsheets. Experience with Nulogy, Client Excel, or Google Sheets is preferred.

Work Environment
This is an on-site role in an active production and warehouse environment, requiring regular time on the floor and adherence to required personal protective equipment and safety procedures. Availability must support assigned production schedules, shift transitions, and operational needs.