Manufacturing Manager

Bradford Soap Works Inc•Broadview, IL

14h•$100,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Manager leads day-to-day production operations at Bradford Labs’ two Illinois manufacturing facilities: the Broadview liquid facility and the Wireton aerosol facility in Blue Island. Reporting to the VP of Operations, IL, the role is accountable for meeting production plans at both sites safely, on time, at the required quality, and at the right cost. The manager directs production supervisors, line leads, operators, and temporary labor, and partners with Planning, Commercial, Quality, Maintenance, EHSS, and Human Resources to coordinate schedules, solve problems, and allocate people and equipment. The position requires hands-on leadership on the production floor and oversight of two operations with different equipment, hazards, and regulatory requirements, while driving continuous improvement and consistent practices across both sites. The role oversees the full production process from planning and staging through filling, packaging, and completion; manages staffing, training, employee performance, and temporary labor; and partners with EHSS and Quality on safety, quality, and compliance. It analyzes production performance and costs, coordinates equipment and process improvements, and participates in capacity planning, budgeting, and special projects. The work environment is a factory setting at two manufacturing facilities. Regular physical presence on the production floor and routine travel between Broadview and Wireton during the work week are required. The role involves exposure to noise, moving machinery, forklift traffic, production chemicals, and at Wireton, flammable propellants and pressurized aerosol containers. Personal protective equipment must be worn according to site protocols. Frequent standing and walking are required, as is the ability to lift up to 35 pounds. Availability across shifts and outside normal business hours is required as production needs dictate. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent education and directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
5–10 years of progressive production or manufacturing leadership experience, including direct management of supervisors and hourly production employees.
Experience managing operations across more than one shift, line, or facility.
Working knowledge of OSHA standards, cGMP, and quality systems and methodologies.
Ability to develop and execute detailed production plans and schedules and adjust quickly when priorities change.
Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills.
Experience managing a temporary or agency labor workforce.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Strong leadership and communication skills, including the ability to motivate teams, delegate, resolve conflicts, and communicate clearly with production employees, management, customers, and suppliers.
Ability to work with minimal supervision, exercise sound judgment on complex decisions affecting company profitability, and hold self and others accountable for results.
Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
Ability to travel routinely between the Broadview and Wireton facilities during the work week.
Ability to be available across shifts and outside normal business hours as production needs dictate.
Frequent standing and walking on the production floor and ability to lift up to 35 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a regulated, high-volume manufacturing or filling and packaging environment, such as personal care, cosmetics, OTC, household products, or food.
Aerosol manufacturing experience or experience working with flammable or pressurized materials.
Experience with continuous improvement tools such as Lean, 5S, and root cause analysis.
Experience with an ERP or production planning system.

Responsibilities

Oversee the full production process at the Broadview and Wireton facilities, from planning and staging through filling, packaging, and completion.
Ensure the daily and weekly production plan is attained at each site, adjusting plans with Planning, Commercial, and Operations when materials, equipment, staffing, or customer priorities change.
Determine staffing, equipment, and supply needs for each line and product type, and establish baseline crewing standards.
Allocate labor, equipment, and resources between the two facilities to meet the combined production schedule.
Lead daily production meetings and shift handoffs at each site, reviewing safety, quality, schedule attainment, and open issues.
Provide the VP of Operations, IL with production updates, including critical issues, risks, and recovery plans.
Lead, supervise, and direct production supervisors, line leads, and production employees at both facilities; assign work, set priorities, and ensure shift coverage.
Recruit, train, and develop production staff with Human Resources; review performance, coach employees, and recommend staffing and compensation changes.
Lead a continuous production training program, including onboarding, cross-training, and line and equipment qualification.
Drive accountability for compliance with company policies and procedures, using the disciplinary process fairly and consistently with Human Resources.
Manage temporary labor with staffing agency partners to maintain staffing levels consistent with the production plan.
Review and approve employee time records and maintain production labor and payroll-related reports.
Partner with EHSS to ensure safety and health standards are followed and production employees are trained in site safety programs, including lockout/tagout, powered industrial truck safety, chemical handling, and personal protective equipment.
At Wireton, ensure safe handling of flammable propellants and pressurized containers, including gassing, leak testing, segregation, and storage, in partnership with EHSS and Quality.
Implement Right First Time practices in production areas to maintain quality and service standards.
Ensure production practices support cGMP, batch record accuracy, line clearance, sanitation standards, and customer and third-party audits.
Partner with Quality and Commercial to communicate product and production standards and investigate and correct quality issues, deviations, and customer complaints.
Analyze production data, including schedule attainment, efficiency, downtime, scrap, and labor hours, to identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
Work with Maintenance and Engineering to prioritize equipment repairs, preventive maintenance windows, controls, and modifications.
Oversee and support process improvement projects, new product introductions, and production trials with R&D, Project Management, Engineering, and Quality.
Standardize production practices, metrics, and reporting across the facilities where appropriate and share best practices between sites.
Monitor production costs, including labor, overtime, temporary labor, and material usage, and implement cost-saving strategies.
Participate as needed in strategic and operational planning, including capacity planning and budgeting for both facilities.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve problems and improve processes and systems.
Manage and coordinate special projects as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.