Production Manager

Job description

MAIN RESPONSABILITIES :

The Production Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and operational control of all production areas at the site. The position ensures efficient production processes, high product quality, on-time delivery, and the continuous improvement of performance, structures, and workflows. As a key member of the plant leadership team, the Production Manager plays a critical role in the productivity, scalability, and long-term success of the site.

1. Strategic & Operational Production Management

• Full responsibility for production operations including manufacturing, assembly, and packaging

• Ensure quality- and schedule-compliant production based on the production plan

• Accountability for KPIs such as productivity, scrap rate, throughput time, and OEE

• Lead capacity planning and adjust resource allocation based on business needs

• Implement and maintain performance dashboards and production controlling systems

2. Leadership & People Management

• Lead, support, and develop approx. 160 employees, including team and shift leaders

• Create and maintain a leadership culture based on trust, clarity, and accountability

• Workforce planning in coordination with HR and cross-functional departments

• Identify training needs and ensure qualification and compliance standards

• Drive employee motivation, retention, and performance through consistent leadership

3. Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Identify and implement process optimizations to increase efficiency and reduce waste

• Apply lean principles such as 5S, Kaizen, SMED, visual management, and Gemba Walks

• Develop and lead continuous improvement (CI) initiatives and operational excellence programs

• Support decision-making regarding investments in machinery, automation, and digitalization

4. Cross-functional Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate closely with departments such as Quality, Planning, Logistics, Engineering, and Maintenance

• Ensure smooth material and information flow across the production chain

• Work with Product Development/Engineering to optimize manufacturability of new products

• Represent production in cross-functional and company-wide projects

5. Compliance, Health & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with occupational safety, health, and environmental regulations

• Promote a safety-first culture and lead incident prevention initiatives

• Oversee documentation and internal audits in line with ISO and legal requirements

• Support ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) targets in the production environment

WHAT WE OFFER :

• Work in international company and environment

• fixed working schedule: five days per week

• Official labor relationship, social package

• medical insurance

• in time salary payments

• Place of work: Zedtlitz, Borna (close to Leipzig)

• Benefits like Bikeleasing

JOB REQUIREMENTS / BACKGROUND : 

Professional Qualifications

-        Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Management, or related field; comparable vocational training with extensive experience also considered

-        Several years of leadership experience in a comparable production management role (with large teams)

-        In-depth knowledge of lean manufacturing, production planning, KPIs, and shopfloor management

-        Experience with ERP systems (ideally proALPHA), MES, and digital production tools

-        Strong understanding of legal and regulatory requirements in production environments

Soft Skills

-        Strong leadership presence, communication skills, and decision-making ability

-        Analytical thinker with structured work style and hands-on mentality

-        High level of accountability, integrity, and ability to lead by example

-        Comfortable managing change, complexity, and ambiguity

-        Proven ability to inspire teams, foster collaboration, and deliver results

-        Language skills: english fluent and german minimum B1-level