Manager, Production Operations

PlayawayProducts•Solon, OH

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Production Operations ensures Production has the people, processes, resources, and leadership needed to safely deliver quality products on time and at the expected cost while continuously improving performance. This role sets the tone for the Production organization and is accountable for building a high-performing, engaged, and accountable team. The Manager, Production Operations develops the capabilities of the Production leadership team and establishes clear ownership throughout the organization. The Manager, Production Operations balances daily operational performance with the longer-term development of people, processes, capacity, systems, and continuous improvement. The role leads the Production system rather than becoming the primary person solving day-to-day floor issues.

Requirements

Seven or more years of progressive experience in production, manufacturing, operations, or a related environment, including at least three years of people-leadership experience.
Demonstrated experience leading through frontline leaders is strongly preferred, with a proven ability to coach, develop, and hold leaders and employees accountable.
Experience with capacity planning, labor planning, resource allocation, operating rhythms, and KPI-based performance management.
Demonstrated success improving production performance, productivity, quality, processes, and cost through standard work and continuous-improvement practices.
Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to use operational data to make decisions, communicate risks, and drive improvement.
Experience with ERP, MRP, or other production-management systems; NetSuite experience is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience leading through frontline leaders is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Own overall Production performance by setting clear expectations and accountability, using data and KPIs to drive execution, proactively addressing risks, and ensuring safety, quality, productivity, cost, and customer commitments are consistently achieved.
Develop a strong and accountable Production leadership team. Establish consistent people-management practices, build future leaders, foster employee engagement and growth, and partner with HR on workforce planning and employee relations. Own and continuously improve the Production training system to ensure employees have the skills, knowledge, and documented standards needed to perform successfully.
Translate demand into effective staffing, equipment, space, and technology requirements. Proactively address constraints and partner with Supply Chain and Operations to support customer delivery and business growth.
Embed clear safety and quality accountability and controls into daily operations. Ensure issues are promptly escalated, resolved at the root cause, and addressed cross-functionally when product or process concerns recur.
Use data to optimize staffing, utilization, throughput, and key cost drivers while balancing service, capacity, safety, quality, and employee experience in partnership with Operations and Finance.
Establish standard work, systematically eliminate inefficiencies and recurring issues, leverage technology and cross-functional partnerships, and engage employees and leaders in continuous improvement.
Ensure Production operates with accurate, actionable data, effective reporting, reliable systems, and consistently documented procedures. Strengthen data discipline and partner with IT and Operations on automation and workflow improvements.
Represent Production across the organization by aligning demand, materials, capacity, resources, systems, and business priorities while proactively escalating significant operational risks and investment needs.