Production Manufacturing Manager

Description

Position: Production Manager

Location: Uxbridge, MA

Reporting To: Director, Operations

Annual Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000

(Compensation is an estimate and depends on skills, knowledge, education, location, and industry experience)

Job Summary: The Production Manager leads daily industrial automation manufacturing operations across 2 shifts, and is accountable for achieving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and production objectives. This role provides leadership and direction to Production Supervisors and frontline manufacturing teams, with oversight of approximately 85 employees, ensuring the efficient execution of manufacturing processes and the consistent achievement of operational goals.

This leader drives Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, partners closely with cross-functional teams to optimize performance, and develops talent through coaching, performance management, and succession planning.

Success in this role requires a hands-on leader who can drive operational performance, develop and engage teams, champion continuous improvement initiatives, and foster a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and operational excellence.

About you: You are a hands-on manufacturing leader with a proven ability to develop people, lead large production teams, and drive operational results. You excel at coaching supervisors, implementing Lean principles, and fostering a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Results-driven and collaborative, you balance daily production demands with long-term operational improvements, using data and Lean practices to improve productivity, quality, efficiency, and cost performance while leading teams through change and achieving business objectives.

Most importantly, you lead by example. You are visible, approachable, accountable, and committed to creating a safe, high-performing manufacturing environment where people, processes, and results continuously improve through a culture of Lean thinking, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

A day in the life:

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop Production Supervisors and manufacturing teams across 2 shifts with oversight of approximately 85 employees, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement while achieving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives.
• Establish clear performance expectations across 2 shift, provide coaching and feedback, and hold employees accountable for results, policies, and standards
• Build leadership capability through performance management, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement initiatives
• Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, employee relations, and workforce planning
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence aligned with Lenze’s Leadership Principles

Operational Execution & Performance Management

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to ensure production schedules, customer commitments, and operational goals are achieved
• Monitor and drive performance against key metrics including safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, cost, and throughput
• Lead Daily Management Systems (DMS), tier meetings, visual management, and operational reviews to ensure issue resolution, escalation, and accountability
• Monitor operational performance, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions to address issues and drive sustained results

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean manufacturing initiatives focused on waste reduction, process optimization, standardization, and operational excellence
• Champion 5S, visual management, standard work, leader standard work, problem-solving methodologies, and Kaizen activities
• Facilitate root cause analysis, A3 problem solving, PDCA activities, and continuous improvement projects that improve performance and reduce costs

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with EHS regulations, company policies, and operational standards
• Lead investigations, audits, risk assessments, and corrective actions to reduce workplace risks and improve safety performance
• Partner with Quality to resolve production issues, customer concerns, and non-conformance while maintaining compliance with QMS requirements
• Ensure adherence to manufacturing processes, work instructions, regulatory requirements, and audit readiness expectations

Cross-Functional Leadership & Strategic Execution

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Logistics, and Customer Service to improve operational performance and support business objectives.
• Support new product introductions, engineering changes, manufacturing readiness reviews, capacity expansion, automation, and digital manufacturing initiatives
• Participate in S&OP, capacity planning, budgeting, and resource allocation activities to support growth and operational readiness.
• Represent Manufacturing Operations during customer visits, audits, leadership reviews, and key business initiatives while collaborating with global operations teams to share best practices

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage staffing, labor utilization, productivity, and overtime to support production requirements and achieve operational performance goals
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, optimize resource utilization, increase capacity, and reduce waste across manufacturing operations
• Monitor operational and cost performance, identify trends and improvement opportunities, and implement actions to enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall business results
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and capital improvement initiatives by providing operational input, resource planning, and performance data to drive informed decision-making and business growth

Requirements

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and manufacturing leadership experience will be considered
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience in electronics, electromechanical, industrial automation, or other industrial manufacturing environments, with increasing levels of leadership responsibility
• 3+ years of people leadership experience leading Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and manufacturing teams of 50+ employees, with a demonstrated ability to develop talent, drive performance, manage workforce productivity, and build engaged, high-performing teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Previous experience as a Production Manager or similar manufacturing leadership role with responsibility for daily production operations, workforce management, and operational performance required
• Proven experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations with responsibility for production performance, workforce management, staffing, and employee development. 
• Demonstrated ability to build, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, safety, and continuous improvement. 
• Track record of achieving operational goals related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance. 
• Experience leading employee development, performance management, succession planning, and employee relations initiatives. 
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and problem-solving tools such as Kaizen, 5-Why, A3, and Root Cause Analysis. 
• Experience using operational metrics and KPIs to drive improvements in productivity, efficiency, throughput, inventory accuracy, and on-time delivery. 
• Working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP highly preferred), manufacturing systems, and production data analysis. 
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including Planning, Materials, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain
• Strong understanding of manufacturing safety requirements, quality standards, compliance regulations, and audit processes
• Experience leading process improvements, automation initiatives, facility expansions, capacity growth projects, manufacturing transfers, or new product introductions. 
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, conflict resolution, listening, and decision-making skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience working in ISO-certified manufacturing environments; familiarity with IPC, ESD, and MSD standards is a plus
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or other continuous improvement certifications preferred

Perks of being part of our team:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Insurance – multiple plan options
• FSA, HSA options 
• Vision Insurance
• 401k with company match, fully vested
• Paid Time Off
• 10 company paid holidays 
• Company paid disability & AD&D insurance 
• 100% paid parental leave after one year of service
• Supplemental insurance plans (Identity theft, cyber protection, additional life, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Many of our positions offer flexible schedules to meet your needs
• Relaxed business casual environment 
• Sit/Stand desks for onsite office positions
• Frequent team building activities
• Career advancement opportunities  

About us: Lenze is a global manufacturer of electrical and mechanical drives, motion control and automation technology - offering products, drive solutions, complete automation systems, and engineering services and tools from one single source. Our products can be found in many industries, including automotive, packaging, material handling and logistics, robotics, and industrial equipment (pumps/fans). 

A global network of distributors and representatives makes Lenze Americas perfectly positioned to meet the motion control needs of customers worldwide. Lenze Americas, the American subsidiary of Lenze SE of Germany, is headquartered in Uxbridge, Massachusetts; corporate global headquarters are in Hamelin, Germany.

Our culture: We’re powered by people. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, and respect—where every voice matters and every idea has the potential to shape the future. We believe in balance, supporting our team with the flexibility and resources they need to thrive both professionally and personally. 

Lenze is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.