Production Excellence Leader (Area Manager)

THE COMPANY Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and currently employs around 76,000 people in 54 countries and markets. Tire solutions from the Tires group sector make mobility safer, smarter, and more sustainable. Its premium portfolio encompasses car, truck, bus, two-wheel, and specialty tires as well as smart solutions and services for fleets and tire retailers. Continental has been delivering top performance for more than 150 years and is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. In fiscal 2025, the Tires group sector generated sales of 13.8 billion euros. Continental's tire division currently employs around 53,000 people worldwide and has 19 production and 16 development sites. THE POSITION Lead daily production operations to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets are achieved. Manage production schedules and resources to maximize output while minimizing downtime and waste. Lead, coach, and develop production teams to build a high-performance culture. Drive quality standards and partner with quality teams to resolve issues through root cause analysis. Ensure compliance with safety regulations, company policies, and environmental requirements. Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies. Manage labor, materials, equipment, and inventory to support production goals. Monitor and analyze KPIs to drive data-based decisions and improve operational performance. Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, logistics, and other departments to ensure production efficiency. Support the Continental Business System (CBS) by driving accountability, standardization, continuous improvement, and team performance. NOTE: May not be inclusive of all work required and may be updated as needed. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field, with 7+ years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment. 14+ years of manufacturing supervisory/leadership experience or more if no relevant Bachelors Degree Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, with experience analyzing production data, tracking KPIs, developing reports, and presenting operational performance metrics to leadership. Proven experience leading production operations in a manufacturing environment, including production scheduling, resource planning, quality management, and continuous improvement initiatives. Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and manage salaried and hourly employees while driving accountability, performance, and employee engagement. Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, KPI management, root cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. Experience managing cross-functional partnerships with quality, maintenance, engineering, logistics, and supply chain teams, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems/ERP platforms. Proven problem-solving skills utilizing root cause analysis and continuous improvement methodologies to drive sustainable results. For Internal candidates: Continental is able to offer visa and relocation support PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 10+ years Tire experience THE ENVIRONMENT Safety is our highest priority and safety procedures / guidelines must be always adhered to. This includes safety wear such as steel toed shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses as needed This position may require standing for long periods and working in a manufacturing environment, which may involve exposure to noise, dust, heat, and machinery. May require evening or weekend work to meet production deadlines. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. EEO-Statement: EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to [email protected] or contact US Recruiting at 800-821-2727. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back. Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.