Production Manager

Location: Jonesville, North Carolina (Onsite)

Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 base salary + 10%–15% target incentive

Department: Manufacturing

Reports To: Plant Manager

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

An established international manufacturing organization is launching a new U.S. manufacturing facility in Jonesville, North Carolina, and is seeking an experienced Production Manager to help lead production launch, establish manufacturing processes, and scale operations as the facility grows.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a manufacturing professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-energy environment and enjoys building operational structure, developing teams, implementing quality standards, and driving continuous improvement. The Production Manager will play a key role in establishing daily manufacturing operations, developing standard operating procedures, improving production efficiency, and ensuring compliance with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

The facility will initially launch with three production lines, including two automated lines and one manual line, supported by approximately 30–40 employees across production, technical, and process-related functions. Future expansion is expected to increase the operation to approximately 24 production lines across electronic consumer products and nicotine pouch manufacturing.

The successful candidate will initially lead a relatively lean production organization, working closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Planning, and international leadership. As the facility expands, the role will evolve to include greater oversight of supervisors, team leaders, and multiple production teams.

The ideal candidate is a flexible, proactive manufacturing leader who can balance strategic planning with a willingness to get involved on the shop floor. Experience in greenfield manufacturing is beneficial but not required. The organization is particularly interested in candidates with strong production leadership, Lean manufacturing, safety, quality, and process development experience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Management and Operational Execution

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve production, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly production plans based on demand forecasts, delivery commitments, available capacity, staffing, and material availability.
• Translate production targets into line-level schedules, work orders, labor assignments, and shift priorities.
• Coordinate production activities across automated and manual assembly lines, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and operational targets are achieved.
• Monitor production output, work-in-process inventory, equipment utilization, downtime, changeovers, and labor productivity.
• Establish daily shift meetings, production reviews, escalation processes, and performance reporting to identify issues and maintain accountability.
• Identify production bottlenecks, resolve operational challenges, and implement corrective actions to minimize disruptions.
• Support flexible staffing and scheduling requirements associated with a continuous, 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Maintain accurate production records and ensure timely reporting of operational performance through ERP, MRP, MES, or other manufacturing systems.

2. Manufacturing Launch and Capacity Expansion

• Support the initial launch and stabilization of manufacturing operations at a newly established U.S. facility.
• Partner with Engineering and other functional leaders to prepare production lines, equipment, personnel, materials, and processes for operational readiness.
• Assist with equipment installation, commissioning, acceptance testing, process validation, pilot production runs, and capacity assessments.
• Help establish production workflows, line layouts, work instructions, staffing models, and operating procedures.
• Identify and resolve production-readiness issues before they affect quality, safety, or delivery commitments.
• Establish repeatable processes that support efficient, consistent, and scalable manufacturing.
• Contribute to capacity planning and operational decisions as additional production lines and shifts are introduced.
• Develop practical solutions to support production growth while maintaining quality, safety, and operational discipline.

3. Standard Operating Procedures and Process Development

• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and EHS to develop, document, and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Establish clear work instructions and standardized processes for equipment operation, assembly, inspection, material handling, and production reporting.
• Ensure production employees understand and consistently follow approved procedures and manufacturing standards.
• Identify gaps in existing processes and develop practical improvements that enhance efficiency, repeatability, and product quality.
• Support process changes, equipment modifications, and new product or production-line introductions.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and ensure operational procedures remain current as processes and equipment evolve.

4. Quality Management and Regulatory Compliance

• Help establish and maintain manufacturing quality standards appropriate for regulated consumer products.
• Ensure production activities comply with approved bills of materials, product specifications, process parameters, labeling, packaging, and inspection requirements.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to establish inspection processes, documentation practices, product traceability, and quality controls.
• Monitor quality performance, including first-pass yield, scrap, rework, defects, and nonconformances.
• Investigate recurring quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate root causes.
• Ensure appropriate traceability of production lots, raw materials, equipment, operators, and inspection records.
• Support internal and external audits, regulatory reviews, change-control activities, and other compliance-related initiatives.
• Help develop manufacturing practices that support applicable FDA requirements and other relevant regulatory obligations.
• Maintain awareness of quality and compliance requirements associated with controlled manufacturing environments and food-grade production areas, where applicable.

5. Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement

• Establish and sustain 5S/6S workplace organization and continuous improvement practices throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Develop a structured approach to workplace organization, including sorting unnecessary materials, organizing tools and equipment, maintaining cleanliness, standardizing practices, and sustaining accountability.
• Implement visual management systems, standardized work, production boards, and other tools that improve operational visibility.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve labor utilization, increase throughput, shorten changeover times, and minimize defects.
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles, root-cause analysis, corrective action methodologies, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment performance, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Encourage employee involvement in identifying operational inefficiencies and recommending process improvements.
• Establish performance measures and follow-up processes to ensure continuous improvement initiatives produce measurable, sustainable results.

6. Equipment Reliability and Maintenance Coordination

• Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to support equipment reliability and production continuity.
• Establish clear procedures for responding to equipment failures, production interruptions, and recurring mechanical or process issues.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance activities and production schedules to minimize unplanned downtime.
• Support root-cause analysis of equipment failures and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Verify that equipment is safe and operational following maintenance, repair, or modification activities.
• Monitor downtime trends and work with cross-functional partners to improve equipment availability and performance.
• Ensure production employees follow appropriate equipment operating procedures and report equipment issues promptly.

7. Safety and Environmental Health

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure employees understand and follow applicable workplace safety requirements.
• Partner with EHS to develop and implement safety procedures, employee training, hazard assessments, and incident-prevention initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and compliance with cleanroom or controlled-environment requirements where applicable.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational hazards associated with machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals, materials handling, and production processes.
• Support machine guarding, lockout/tagout, electrostatic discharge (ESD) controls, hazardous-material handling, and waste-management procedures as applicable.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Maintain appropriate safety documentation and ensure required employee training is completed.
• Reinforce accountability for maintaining clean, organized, and safe production areas.

8. Cost Management and Productivity

• Monitor production costs and identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency.
• Manage labor utilization, overtime, scrap, rework, consumables, material usage, and other controllable production expenses.
• Analyze production variances and work with Finance to understand cost drivers and improve cost performance.
• Establish productivity metrics and monitor performance against production targets.
• Balance labor efficiency, production output, equipment utilization, and quality requirements.
• Recommend operational improvements that reduce costs without compromising product quality, employee safety, or delivery commitments.

9. Team Leadership and Employee Development

• Initially lead a team of approximately 30–40 employees, including production operators, technicians, and process technicians.
• Provide clear direction, establish performance expectations, and maintain accountability across the production organization.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, training, skills development, performance management, attendance, and employee relations.
• Develop training plans and skills matrices to ensure employees are qualified to perform assigned responsibilities.
• Establish consistent communication practices across shifts to maintain operational continuity.
• Coach employees and emerging team leaders, promoting ownership, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
• Work with leadership to develop the supervisory structure as production expands.
• Transition from direct oversight of a smaller production team toward broader management of supervisors, team leaders, and multiple production groups as the organization grows.

10. Cross-Functional and International Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Regulatory, Planning, Materials, Supply Chain, Warehouse, EHS, HR, and Finance.
• Coordinate production priorities, resource requirements, equipment readiness, material availability, and quality initiatives across departments.
• Collaborate with China-based management and technical teams to support operational alignment, knowledge sharing, and manufacturing development.
• Communicate production performance, operational challenges, resource requirements, and significant risks to the Plant Manager and other relevant stakeholders.
• Participate in operational reviews, audits, process-change discussions, and capacity-planning activities.
• Support the development of a strong, collaborative operating culture as the U.S. manufacturing organization becomes established and expands.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation, Operations, or a related discipline; equivalent manufacturing leadership experience will also be considered.
• At least seven years of manufacturing experience, including a minimum of three years in a Production Manager, Senior Production Supervisor, or comparable production leadership position.
• Demonstrated experience managing production employees, technicians, team leaders, or supervisors in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, labor allocation, shop-floor management, manufacturing processes, and operational performance metrics.
• Experience implementing standard operating procedures, work instructions, production controls, or manufacturing process improvements.
• Practical knowledge of Lean manufacturing, 5S/6S, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, or EHS.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify operational issues, develop solutions, and drive implementation.
• Proficiency with manufacturing systems, such as ERP, MRP, or MES, as well as Microsoft Excel and production data analysis.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Professional English proficiency for employee leadership, safety communication, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to work onsite in Jonesville, North Carolina, with flexibility to support a 24/7 production environment, including varying shifts, weekends, and urgent operational needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in consumer electronics, electronic component assembly, automated manufacturing, small-product assembly, or battery-powered products.
• Exposure to FDA-regulated manufacturing, nicotine products, or other regulated consumer product environments.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems, product traceability, document control, and audit requirements.
• Experience supporting production launches, equipment commissioning, new product introduction (NPI), pilot builds, or capacity ramp-ups.
• Knowledge of TPM, OEE, preventive maintenance coordination, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Familiarity with applicable ESD, IPC, UL, or customer-specific manufacturing and quality standards.
• Lean Six Sigma, ASQ, or other relevant continuous improvement certification.
• Mandarin proficiency to support communication with China-based management, engineering teams, and suppliers.

Greenfield manufacturing experience, direct e-cigarette manufacturing experience, and formal ISO certifications are not mandatory.

Measures of Success

Performance will be evaluated based on the Production Manager's ability to establish stable manufacturing operations, develop employees, and support ongoing facility expansion.

Safety and Compliance

• Reduction in workplace incidents and unsafe conditions.
• Timely completion of safety training and corrective actions.
• Compliance with applicable operational, documentation, and audit requirements.

Quality

• Improved first-pass yield and reduced scrap and rework.
• Timely resolution of nonconformances and corrective actions.
• Consistent adherence to manufacturing procedures and traceability requirements.

Production and Efficiency

• Achievement of production schedules and delivery commitments.
• Improved throughput, labor productivity, and equipment utilization.
• Reduced downtime, changeover times, and production bottlenecks.
• Effective execution of production launch and capacity expansion plans.

People and Organizational Development

• Effective staffing and training of production teams.
• Development of employee skills and future supervisors.
• Consistent execution of operating procedures and performance expectations.
• Successful transition to a scalable supervisory and production leadership structure.

Work Environment and Schedule

This is a full-time, onsite leadership role within a developing manufacturing facility. The operation is expected to run continuously, 24 hours per day and seven days per week, utilizing a rotating 12-hour shift schedule.

The Production Manager will have an overlapping daytime leadership presence while maintaining the flexibility to support other shifts, weekends, urgent production issues, and operational escalations when necessary.

The position requires a visible shop-floor leadership presence, regular interaction with production employees, and the ability to work in manufacturing and controlled-environment areas while following applicable PPE and safety requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary: $120,000–$150,000, depending on experience and role scope.
• Target incentive: 10%–15%.
• Medical insurance and additional company benefits.
• Relocation assistance may be available depending on the candidate's circumstances and company policy.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration based on their qualifications, skills, and experience without discrimination based on any characteristic protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified applicants and employees.