Blow Mold Department Manager
Location
Greater Burlington, NC Area
M-F, 8am-5pm with some on-call expectations for Saturday operations
Position Overview
A leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturer is seeking a Blow Mold Department Manager to lead HDPE blow molding operations across multiple manufacturing facilities. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with operational leadership to oversee people, processes, equipment performance, and continuous improvement in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in HDPE blow molding, experience leading production teams, and a track record of improving safety, quality, productivity, and equipment reliability.
Key Responsibilities
Operations & People Leadership
- Lead daily HDPE blow molding operations across multiple manufacturing facilities.
- Manage, coach, and develop a team of machine operators, technicians, and production support personnel.
- Develop labor schedules and staffing plans to meet production demands.
- Ensure compliance with safety procedures, standard work, and operating practices.
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management.
- Participate in an on-call rotation to support production as needed.
Technical & Process Leadership
- Provide technical leadership for HDPE blow molding processes, including setup, changeovers, troubleshooting, and process optimization.
- Drive process stability, repeatability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and manufacturing performance.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance activities and support larger maintenance projects.
- Support equipment upgrades, tooling improvements, and capital projects.
Performance & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor and improve key manufacturing metrics including OEE, uptime, scrap, throughput, and labor efficiency.
- Analyze production and quality data to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
- Lead initiatives focused on reducing downtime, improving productivity, and increasing operational efficiency.
- Communicate performance results and improvement plans with plant leadership and cross-functional teams.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum of 5 years of HDPE blow molding experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong technical knowledge of blow molding processes, materials, molds, and equipment.
- Experience leading production teams in a manufacturing setting.
- Experience managing labor planning, production scheduling, and operational performance.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing safety and quality systems.
Preferred
- Experience within food & beverage, packaging, plastics, or other consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience supporting multiple manufacturing locations.
Skills
- Strong leadership and team development abilities.
- Excellent troubleshooting and technical problem-solving skills.
- Data-driven decision making.
- Effective communication across production, maintenance, engineering, and leadership teams.
- Ability to balance hands-on floor leadership with strategic operational planning.
Work Environment
This position supports multiple high-volume manufacturing facilities operating in a continuous production environment. The role requires regular time on the production floor, occasional travel between facilities, and participation in an on-call rotation.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Frequent use of hands and arms.
- Ability to reach, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, and balance.
- Ability to communicate effectively in a manufacturing environment.
- Ability to distinguish colors when working around manufacturing equipment.
- Depth perception, peripheral vision, and distance vision sufficient to safely perform job duties.