Production Manager

Production Manager

Lake Charles, Louisiana | On-site | Full-time

Base salary: $155,000–$165,000, with additional flexibility for directly relevant industry experience

Target annual bonus: 10% of base salary, subject to business unit EBITDA achievement and individual performance

Relocation: Comprehensive, personalized relocation assistance available

A continuous-process manufacturing company is seeking a Production Manager to lead facility-wide production operations, develop manufacturing leaders and drive sustained improvements in safety, quality, reliability, productivity and cost performance.

Reporting to the Plant Manager, this individual will lead a production organization of approximately 50 employees, including salaried and hourly personnel. The current structure includes 10 direct reports and four rotating shift supervisors, with a proposed restructuring intended to streamline the reporting structure.

This is an opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to execute established operational plans while bringing fresh perspectives and driving future improvements in efficiency, productivity and profitability. The position is part of the site leadership team and offers a potential path toward Plant Manager or broader leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe, reliable and efficient production across a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, safety and applicable Process Safety Management requirements.
• Execute established operational plans and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and profitability.
• Develop production plans aligned with customer requirements and business objectives.
• Improve throughput, equipment availability, yield, product quality, energy utilization and manufacturing costs.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, structured problem-solving and root cause investigations.
• Identify and eliminate operational constraints to improve capacity utilization.
• Partner with Maintenance and Reliability on equipment performance, outages, turnarounds and startup activities.
• Support capital projects, new technologies and process improvements.
• Coach and develop production managers, supervisors and frontline personnel.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning and performance management.
• Promote strong employee and labor relations.
• Develop and manage manufacturing operating budgets.
• Serve as a member of the site leadership team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience in chemical, silica, industrial minerals, refining, cement, paper, coatings or another continuous-process industry.
• At least five years of manufacturing leadership experience managing supervisors and/or managers.
• Demonstrated success leading complex manufacturing operations in a 24/7 environment.
• Strong knowledge of process safety, continuous manufacturing and operational excellence.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change, develop teams and deliver sustained performance improvements.
• Strong leadership, analytical, problem-solving and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership experience in silica, industrial minerals or chemical manufacturing, particularly with multiple production units.
• Experience with organizations such as Solvay, PQ or Evonik.
• Experience in a PSM-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Advanced degree in business, engineering or a related discipline.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or Operational Excellence certification.
• SAP experience.

The company welcomes candidates from across the country who can bring experience and perspectives from other manufacturing environments. Comprehensive relocation assistance is available for the selected candidate.