Job Description

The Manager, Production Operations ensures Production has the people, processes, resources, and leadership needed to safely deliver quality products on time and at the expected cost while continuously improving performance.

This role sets the tone for the Production organization and is accountable for building a high-performing, engaged, and accountable team. The Manager, Production Operations develops the capabilities of the Production leadership team and establishes clear ownership throughout the organization.

The Manager, Production Operations balances daily operational performance with the longer-term development of people, processes, capacity, systems, and continuous improvement. The role leads the Production system rather than becoming the primary person solving day-to-day floor issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Leadership and Performance: Own overall Production performance by setting clear expectations and accountability, using data and KPIs to drive execution, proactively addressing risks, and ensuring safety, quality, productivity, cost, and customer commitments are consistently achieved.
• People Leadership and Development: Develop a strong and accountable Production leadership team. Establish consistent people-management practices, build future leaders, foster employee engagement and growth, and partner with HR on workforce planning and employee relations. Own and continuously improve the Production training system to ensure employees have the skills, knowledge, and documented standards needed to perform successfully.
• Capacity, Labor and Resource Planning: Translate demand into effective staffing, equipment, space, and technology requirements. Proactively address constraints and partner with Supply Chain and Operations to support customer delivery and business growth.
• Safety and Quality: Embed clear safety and quality accountability and controls into daily operations. Ensure issues are promptly escalated, resolved at the root cause, and addressed cross-functionally when product or process concerns recur.
• Productivity and Cost Management: Use data to optimize staffing, utilization, throughput, and key cost drivers while balancing service, capacity, safety, quality, and employee experience in partnership with Operations and Finance.
• Process and Continuous Improvement: Establish standard work, systematically eliminate inefficiencies and recurring issues, leverage technology and cross-functional partnerships, and engage employees and leaders in continuous improvement.
• Production Systems and Data: Ensure Production operates with accurate, actionable data, effective reporting, reliable systems, and consistently documented procedures. Strengthen data discipline and partner with IT and Operations on automation and workflow improvements.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Represent Production across the organization by aligning demand, materials, capacity, resources, systems, and business priorities while proactively escalating significant operational risks and investment needs.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of progressive experience in production, manufacturing, operations, or a related environment, including at least three years of people-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading through frontline leaders is strongly preferred, with a proven ability to coach, develop, and hold leaders and employees accountable.
• Experience with capacity planning, labor planning, resource allocation, operating rhythms, and KPI-based performance management.
• Demonstrated success improving production performance, productivity, quality, processes, and cost through standard work and continuous-improvement practices.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to use operational data to make decisions, communicate risks, and drive improvement.
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or other production-management systems; NetSuite experience is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.

Leadership Profile

The successful Manager, Production Operations leads through others by developing an accountable Production leadership team and building strong, sustainable systems. This leader combines hands-on floor visibility with strategic oversight, anticipates operational needs, uses data to guide decisions, and fosters trust and employee engagement while balancing safety, quality, service, people, productivity, and cost.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in a clean, well-lit, climate-controlled production and warehouse environment. The position requires regular movement throughout the Production floor, extended periods of sitting or standing, regular computer use, and the ability to push, pull, bend, and lift objects weighing up to 35 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Additional Information

Full-time and qualified part-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, Student Loan Repayment Program, Educational Assistance & generous paid time off.

Playaway Products is a subsidiary of Penguin Random House. Playaway Products and Penguin Random House values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

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