| Location | Stillwater, MN |
**Responsibilities:
**
Lead and manage all production activities across multiple work centers within a chemical packaging facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations while meeting quality and delivery objectives.
Direct, develop, and manage a production workforce of approximately 30 employees by setting clear performance expectations, promoting accountability, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
Serve as a key member of the plant leadership team, driving continuous improvement initiatives through Lean Manufacturing, 5S, visual management, and structured problem-solving.
Promote a safety-first culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and company safety policies across all production operations.
Conduct safety audits, risk assessments, incident investigations, employee training, and corrective actions to improve workplace safety and prevent hazards.
Ensure all packaged products meet quality specifications, regulatory requirements, and internal standards by maintaining compliance with established procedures and work instructions.
Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, Purchasing, Maintenance, and R&D teams to investigate non-conformances, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to reduce defects, scrap, and rework.
Oversee daily production scheduling, labor allocation, and workflow execution to meet customer delivery commitments while maximizing productivity and throughput.
Coordinate with Planning, Purchasing, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Quality teams to resolve production bottlenecks, communicate priorities, and develop contingency plans.
Manage labor, materials, staffing, and operating expenses to achieve budget targets and maintain cost-effective production operations.
Drive process optimization, waste reduction, equipment reliability, automation opportunities, and cost-saving initiatives to improve productivity and minimize downtime.
Lead, coach, and develop Area Supervisors, Team Leads, and Operators, ensuring employees receive the necessary training and resources to perform effectively.
Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning through performance management, employee development, skills tracking, and cross-training initiatives.
**
**
**Qualifications:
**
Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred. Equivalent education and manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
10+ years of manufacturing or packaging leadership experience.
Previous experience in chemical packaging, blending, filling, or related process industries preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing multiple production work centers and hourly employees.
Knowledge of chemical handling, packaging operations, safety management systems, and regulatory compliance.
Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, continuous improvement, and problem-solving methodologies.
Proven leadership, team development, employee coaching, and workforce management skills.
Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and corrective action experience.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Proficiency in ERP systems, production scheduling, and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and develop a skilled, cross-trained workforce.
**
**
You should be proficient in: