Production Manager

Production Manager
Sussex, WI
Lead Operations at a World-Class Manufacturing Facility
Are you a hands-on manufacturing leader who thrives on developing people, driving continuous improvement, and delivering operational excellence?
Pregis is seeking a Production Manager to lead our Extrusion Operations at our state-of-the-art Sussex, Wisconsin facility. This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll have the opportunity to shape culture, improve performance, develop frontline leaders, and influence the future of our manufacturing operation.
Reporting to the Director of Operations, you'll lead a team of supervisors and production professionals while driving safety, quality, productivity, and employee engagement across the extrusion department.
If you're energized by solving complex operational challenges, leading high-performing teams, and creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Do
As Production Manager, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of our extrusion manufacturing operation, ensuring we consistently meet our commitments to safety, quality, customer service, and operational performance.
Key responsibilities include:
Lead and Develop People

Coach, mentor, and develop shift supervisors and production team members
Foster a culture built on accountability, engagement, collaboration, and respect
Conduct performance evaluations and create development plans for employees
Partner with Human Resources to support employee relations, staffing, and talent development
Recognize achievements while addressing performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner

Drive Operational Excellence

Lead daily production activities to ensure customer demands are met safely and efficiently
Improve productivity, workflow, equipment utilization, and overall operational performance
Collaborate closely with Production Control, Supply Chain, Logistics, Converting, and other support functions
Monitor production schedules, inventory levels, raw materials, and work-in-process inventory to ensure uninterrupted operations

Champion Safety and Quality

Be a visible leader in creating and sustaining a strong safety-first culture
Conduct safety audits, inspections, training, and employee engagement activities
Drive continuous improvement efforts focused on reducing scrap, improving quality, and eliminating waste
Ensure compliance with operational standards, work procedures, and best practices

Lead Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve manufacturing performance
Champion Lean Manufacturing initiatives and data-driven decision-making
Implement operational strategies that support business goals, budget objectives, and profitability
Utilize KPIs and operational data to drive sustainable improvements

What Success Looks Like
In this role, you will:

Build highly engaged and accountable teams
Improve safety performance and strengthen the plant's safety culture
Reduce scrap and improve product quality
Increase operational efficiency and productivity
Develop future leaders within the organization
Help drive long-term growth and profitability for the facility

What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications

5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience in a production, operations, or plant management environment
Proven success leading supervisors and production teams in a fast-paced manufacturing setting
Strong experience driving safety, quality, and productivity initiatives
Demonstrated ability to coach employees and build high-performing teams
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field
Experience in plastics, extrusion, packaging, film manufacturing, or other process-driven manufacturing environments
Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Six Sigma experience
Experience with SAP and Microsoft Office applications

Why Join Pregis?

Lead operations in a modern, highly automated manufacturing facility
Make a direct impact on business results and operational strategy
Work closely with senior leadership and influence key decisions
Join a company committed to safety, innovation, sustainability, and employee development
Opportunity to develop your career with a growing industry leader

If you're ready to take ownership of a critical manufacturing operation and lead a team committed to excellence, apply now!

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