Production Manager II

Refresco Careers•Paw Paw, MI

About The Position

The Production Manager II is responsible for managing the facility’s production process and associates to maintain efficient production at the desired quality and quantity. The role leads the Plant Production team in meeting key performance indicators for safety, environment, quality, customer service, and cost, while building a capable team of decision makers and future leaders. The position oversees employee work and personnel actions, including hiring, performance management, and termination. It provides training, direction, and performance feedback; coordinates with other departments to improve quality and efficiency; and supports production planning, equipment reliability, safety, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role also contributes to budgeting and long-term planning, communicates business results, and serves as a backup to Plant Leadership as required. Work takes place in a fast-paced production plant with moving equipment, potentially hot or cold temperatures, and noise requiring hearing protection. At least 50% of the role is expected to involve presence on the production floor. Travel is anticipated rarely. Weekday, weekend, afternoon, evening, overnight, and holiday work may be required. The position involves attention to detail, equipment-related coordination and dexterity, and pronounced deadline or production pressure.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least 5 years of relevant work experience in a high-speed manufacturing environment.
Proven leadership experience in a high-speed beverage production environment is preferred.
Ability to independently and efficiently operate and troubleshoot required manufacturing equipment.
Ability to work quickly and accurately under deadline pressure.
Organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to change.
Proficiency in Excel, Word, SAP, and PowerPoint.
Practical understanding of SQF and HACCP, including the ability to address related inquiries.
Understanding of quality standards and requirements for manufactured products and ability to implement quality controls and work with the quality team.
Ability to resolve process and equipment issues to minimize downtime and waste.
Ensure OSHA, environmental, and corporate compliance.
Effective communication with direct reports and all levels of the organization; ability to collaborate to support smooth workflow.
Sound decision-making with sometimes limited data, with willingness to learn from outcomes.
Ability to coach employees across performance levels, help them identify goals and use their talents, build relationships, and offer recognition.
Take initiative and responsibility, develop creative solutions, evaluate results, and incorporate feedback.
Optimize production schedules by prioritizing tasks and minimizing downtime to meet deadlines.
Attention to detail using one or two senses at a time, excellent hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for precise equipment control, and ability to work under pronounced deadline, quota, or accuracy pressure.

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate degree in a related field, preferably with a focus on Operations Management.
Functional experience in Lean Manufacturing, 5S, TPM, or related practices.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with health and safety policies and procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, PPE requirements, and applicable food-quality and food-safety standards, including corporate, customer, governing-body, SQF, and HACCP requirements.
Lead and direct employees, including hiring, performance management, termination, training, instruction, performance evaluations, and staff development.
Plan and evaluate employee performance, training and development, recruitment, and, as applicable, contribute to pay recommendations.
Conduct daily meetings with direct reports as required to identify and resolve issues.
Collaborate with other departments to improve quality, increase efficiency and yields, and eliminate out-of-specification or damaged products.
Foster a positive team environment that promotes cooperation and teamwork.
Read and follow the production manufacturing schedule, communicate issues or deviations to appropriate parties, and respond to inquiries.
Mobilize resources and lead efforts to reduce unscheduled downtime.
Follow Quality Control and production-line standard operating procedures.
Perform minor machine maintenance and daily and weekly preventive maintenance.
Conduct required GEMBA walks through the plant.
Support and encourage a culture aligned with Refresco Values.
Develop strategies to minimize energy use and waste.
Participate in the annual department budget and strategic long-term planning.
Develop and communicate business results as required.
Support the Safety Committee in promoting a strong safety-focused culture.
Serve as backup to Plant Leadership as required.
Lead department process improvement using lean principles, team feedback, and continuous-improvement events such as Kaizen.
Maintain accurate production data and organized records, complete monthly Alchemy training on time and accurately, and follow the equipment downtime escalation process.