Area Manager

Lozier Corporation • Joplin, MO

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Area Manager oversees daily operations in a designated production area to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale (SQDCM) objectives. The role leads production teams, coordinates with support departments, and implements continuous improvement initiatives to promote operational excellence. It ensures efficient use of resources and compliance with company policies, while fostering accountability, teamwork, and workforce development through support, encouragement, and mentorship.

The Area Manager leads supervisors, leads, and production employees; monitors safety, quality, and production performance; plans workforce and equipment use; and uses operational data and key performance indicators to identify improvements. The role also supports effective training, accurate operational reporting, cross-functional projects, and strategic and budgetary planning. The position is onsite, with a Monday-through-Friday schedule and occasional flexibility depending on production needs.

Requirements

• Associate degree in manufacturing, industrial engineering, business, or another relevant technical field, or the stated experience alternative for non-degreed candidates.
• At least 5 years of warehouse or manufacturing experience if degreed, or at least 7 years if non-degreed.
• At least 3 years of experience in a supervisory or lead role.
• Intermediate PC skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, and experience with manufacturing systems such as ERP/MES.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, influence others, and manage change.
• Experience using SQDCM models to lead and unify teams.
• Analytical and quantitative problem-solving ability.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production and capacity planning, scheduling, execution, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Experience aligning process capability with internal or external customer requirements.
• Ability to recognize waste or losses and identify solutions to reduce or minimize them.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team across business functions and drive continuous improvement.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to navigate manufacturing environments, including frequent walking and standing and exposure to machinery.
• Successful completion of a pre-hire drug screen and post-offer background screen is required.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, industrial engineering, business, or another relevant technical field.
• Applied understanding of Six Sigma.
• Lean certification.
• Operational familiarity with SCADA systems.
• Functional knowledge of ISO 9000.
• Proficiency in APQP.
• Demonstrated ability in automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS).
• Bilingual skills.

Responsibilities

• Champion Lozier’s Mission, Vision, and Values and demonstrate the Lozier Leadership Model.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, and production employees to achieve shared goals and performance targets.
• Monitor compliance with local policies, safety regulations, quality standards, and production schedules.
• Ensure regulatory standards and company policies are understood and followed on the production floor.
• Support supervisors in maintaining quality standards, including ISO 900 and APQP.
• Oversee workforce planning and scheduling to optimize labor and equipment utilization.
• Recommend improvements to working conditions, production methods, equipment, and documented processes; remove production barriers and resolve issues.
• Encourage continuous improvement using support functions, lean manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving.
• Analyze real-time and historical SCADA data to identify trends, anomalies, and process optimization opportunities.
• Analyze KPIs, including OEE, scrap rate, labor efficiency, and downtime, and implement improvements.
• Mentor supervisors in conducting process checks and monitoring performance and daily accountability.
• Maintain accurate records and reports on production output, downtime, personnel performance, and safety incidents.
• Ensure training programs are effective and current for workforce development and regulatory compliance.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional projects involving cost savings, capacity expansion, or process standardization.
• Promote accountability, engagement, and high performance, including under difficult circumstances.
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality for work, meetings, and assignments, and interact effectively with others.
• Lead strategic and budgetary planning and execution, including defining, aligning, and deploying leading and lagging metrics.
• May support the collective bargaining process.

Benefits

• Company bonus potential.
• PTO (Paid Time Off) and paid holidays.
• Competitive benefits package, with medical, dental, and vision benefits eligible from the first day of employment.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Career Development Programs.
• Casual dress.
• Relocation benefits available, as applicable.
• Flex Fridays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree