Manager, Production 1st Shift

Schedule:  Monday - Friday 6:00 am - 2:30pm  The Manager, Production 1st Shift is responsible for leading and developing a team of 15–20 production operators in the manufacturing and packaging of prepared culture media for pharmaceutical and food industry customers. This position ensures the safe, efficient, and compliant execution of production activities, with direct accountability for meeting daily output, quality, and safety goals. A key responsibility of this role is fostering a high-performance team culture through hands-on coaching, regular feedback, and structured performance management.  They will identify development opportunities, promote cross-training, and implement individualized growth plans to strengthen team capability and flexibility. In addition to driving production execution, the Supervisor leads by example in reinforcing GMP practices, continuous improvement, and personal accountability to elevate overall team performance and engagement. Manufacturing Operations

• Supervise daily activities of 10 to 20 Production Operators
• Maintain and execute shift scheduling, including resource coverage and overtime planning
• Review and approve batch records for compliance and completeness
• Conduct daily short interval meetings and staff communications; maintain records
• Drive real-time floor presence to oversee safety, efficiency, and quality adherence
• Support investigations of Nonconformities (QEs) and participate in CAPA activities
• Ensure compliance with FIFO and production material handling standards
• Support troubleshooting and provide technical guidance on equipment and processes
• Coordinate with Process Technicians and Maintenance for proactive issue resolution
• Maximize equipment utilization and process throughput
• Utilize systems including SAP, Tulip MES, TrackWise, and DocLink to manage work execution and documentation
• Ensure proper documentation and communication of process or equipment changes

Team Development and Performance

• Promote a positive, engaged, and accountable team culture
• Provide timely coaching and feedback; conduct performance evaluations for all direct reports
• Support career development through individualized training and cross-training plans
• Ensure team members are trained and compliant with procedures relevant to production and packaging
• Assist with the Performance Management process, including performance improvement plans and recognition
• Encourage continuous learning and promote internal advancement

Compliance, Quality, and Safety

• Enforce site safety policies and lead shift-based safety engagement
• Promote and model cGMP compliance in all operations
• Drive lean manufacturing initiatives including 5S, visual management, and standard work adherence
• Collaborate with Quality and Engineering to ensure process and product conformance
• Lead or contribute to change management activities including updates to SOPs and controlled documentation to reflect process improvements and regulatory expectations

Project Work and Strategic Initiatives

• Lead or support operational and cross-functional projects to improve efficiency, cost, and throughput
• Contribute to digital system implementation, process automation, and best practice standardization
• Assist in planning and executing department initiatives aligned with site-wide continuous improvement and strategic goals

Other Duties

• Perform other tasks and projects as assigned by Management

  Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required and 6+ years of supervisory experience
  • OR Associate degree and 4+ years of supervisory experience
  • OR Bachelors Degree in related field (Biology, Engineering, etc.) and 2+ years of supervisory experience

• GMP experience preferred

 Skills and Knowledge

• Leadership & Team Development – Proven ability to supervise, coach, and motivate frontline manufacturing teams to meet performance and behavioral expectations.
• Production Process Knowledge – Solid understanding of manufacturing operations, production scheduling, and material flow in a regulated environment.
• Safety & Compliance Awareness – Strong working knowledge of cGMP, FDA, ISO, and OSHA standards, with a focus on maintaining a safe and compliant workplace.
• Technical Aptitude – Comfortable working with manufacturing equipment, automation tools, and systems such as SAP and MES platforms (Tulip preferred).
• Lean Manufacturing Mindset – Experience with continuous improvement methodologies, including 5S, Kaizen, and visual management techniques.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making – Ability to assess issu