Frederick Fox

Production Manager

Location: Jonesville, North Carolina (Onsite)

Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 base salary + 10%–15% target
incentive

Department: Manufacturing

Reports To: Plant Manager

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

An established international manufacturing organization is
launching a new U.S. manufacturing facility in Jonesville, North
Carolina, and is seeking an experienced Production Manager to
help lead production launch, establish manufacturing processes,
and scale operations as the facility grows.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a manufacturing
professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-energy environment
and enjoys building operational structure, developing teams,
implementing quality standards, and driving continuous
improvement. The Production Manager will play a key role in
establishing daily manufacturing operations, developing standard
operating procedures, improving production efficiency, and
ensuring compliance with applicable safety, quality, and
regulatory requirements.

The facility will initially launch with three production lines,
including two automated lines and one manual line, supported by
approximately 30–40 employees across production, technical, and
process-related functions. Future expansion is expected to
increase the operation to approximately 24 production lines
across electronic consumer products and nicotine pouch
manufacturing.

The successful candidate will initially lead a relatively lean
production organization, working closely with Engineering,
Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS),
Planning, and international leadership. As the facility expands,
the role will evolve to include greater oversight of supervisors,
team leaders, and multiple production teams.

The ideal candidate is a flexible, proactive manufacturing leader
who can balance strategic planning with a willingness to get
involved on the shop floor. Experience in greenfield
manufacturing is beneficial but not required. The organization is
particularly interested in candidates with strong production
leadership, Lean manufacturing, safety, quality, and process
development experience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Management and Operational Execution

* Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve production,
quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
* Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly production plans
based on demand forecasts, delivery commitments, available
capacity, staffing, and material availability.
* Translate production targets into line-level schedules, work
orders, labor assignments, and shift priorities.
* Coordinate production activities across automated and manual
assembly lines, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and
operational targets are achieved.
* Monitor production output, work-in-process inventory, equipment
utilization, downtime, changeovers, and labor productivity.
* Establish daily shift meetings, production reviews, escalation
processes, and performance reporting to identify issues and
maintain accountability.
* Identify production bottlenecks, resolve operational
challenges, and implement corrective actions to minimize
disruptions.
* Support flexible staffing and scheduling requirements
associated with a continuous, 24/7 manufacturing operation.
* Maintain accurate production records and ensure timely
reporting of operational performance through ERP, MRP, MES, or
other manufacturing systems.
2. Manufacturing Launch and Capacity Expansion

* Support the initial launch and stabilization of manufacturing
operations at a newly established U.S. facility.
* Partner with Engineering and other functional leaders to
prepare production lines, equipment, personnel, materials, and
processes for operational readiness.
* Assist with equipment installation, commissioning, acceptance
testing, process validation, pilot production runs, and capacity
assessments.
* Help establish production workflows, line layouts, work
instructions, staffing models, and operating procedures.
* Identify and resolve production-readiness issues before they
affect quality, safety, or delivery commitments.
* Establish repeatable processes that support efficient,
consistent, and scalable manufacturing.
* Contribute to capacity planning and operational decisions as
additional production lines and shifts are introduced.
* Develop practical solutions to support production growth while
maintaining quality, safety, and operational discipline.
3. Standard Operating Procedures and Process Development

* Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and EHS to
develop, document, and implement standard operating procedures
(SOPs).
* Establish clear work instructions and standardized processes
for equipment operation, assembly, inspection, material handling,
and production reporting.
* Ensure production employees understand and consistently follow
approved procedures and manufacturing standards.
* Identify gaps in existing processes and develop practical
improvements that enhance efficiency, repeatability, and product
quality.
* Support process changes, equipment modifications, and new
product or production-line introductions.
* Maintain appropriate documentation and ensure operational
procedures remain current as processes and equipment evolve.
4. Quality Management and Regulatory Compliance

* Help establish and maintain manufacturing quality standards
appropriate for regulated consumer products.
* Ensure production activities comply with approved bills of
materials, product specifications, process parameters, labeling,
packaging, and inspection requirements.
* Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to establish
inspection processes, documentation practices, product
traceability, and quality controls.
* Monitor quality performance, including first-pass yield, scrap,
rework, defects, and nonconformances.
* Investigate recurring quality issues and implement corrective
and preventive actions to eliminate root causes.
* Ensure appropriate traceability of production lots, raw
materials, equipment, operators, and inspection records.
* Support internal and external audits, regulatory reviews,
change-control activities, and other compliance-related
initiatives.
* Help develop manufacturing practices that support applicable
FDA requirements and other relevant regulatory obligations.
* Maintain awareness of quality and compliance requirements
associated with controlled manufacturing environments and
food-grade production areas, where applicable.
5. Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement

* Establish and sustain 5S/6S workplace organization and
continuous improvement practices throughout the manufacturing
operation.
* Develop a structured approach to workplace organization,
including sorting unnecessary materials, organizing tools and
equipment, maintaining cleanliness, standardizing practices, and
sustaining accountability.
* Implement visual management systems, standardized work,
production boards, and other tools that improve operational
visibility.
* Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve labor
utilization, increase throughput, shorten changeover times, and
minimize defects.
* Apply Lean manufacturing principles, root-cause analysis,
corrective action methodologies, and structured problem-solving
techniques.
* Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment
performance, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness
(OEE).
* Encourage employee involvement in identifying operational
inefficiencies and recommending process improvements.
* Establish performance measures and follow-up processes to
ensure continuous improvement initiatives produce measurable,
sustainable results.
6. Equipment Reliability and Maintenance Coordination

* Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to support
equipment reliability and production continuity.
* Establish clear procedures for responding to equipment
failures, production interruptions, and recurring mechanical or
process issues.
* Coordinate preventive maintenance activities and production
schedules to minimize unplanned downtime.
* Support root-cause analysis of equipment failures and ensure
appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
* Verify that equipment is safe and operational following
maintenance, repair, or modification activities.
* Monitor downtime trends and work with cross-functional partners
to improve equipment availability and performance.
* Ensure production employees follow appropriate equipment
operating procedures and report equipment issues promptly.
7. Safety and Environmental Health

* Promote a strong safety culture and ensure employees understand
and follow applicable workplace safety requirements.
* Partner with EHS to develop and implement safety procedures,
employee training, hazard assessments, and incident-prevention
initiatives.
* Ensure appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
and compliance with cleanroom or controlled-environment
requirements where applicable.
* Identify, assess, and mitigate operational hazards associated
with machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals, materials
handling, and production processes.
* Support machine guarding, lockout/tagout, electrostatic
discharge (ESD) controls, hazardous-material handling, and
waste-management procedures as applicable.
* Investigate incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions,
implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
* Maintain appropriate safety documentation and ensure required
employee training is completed.
* Reinforce accountability for maintaining clean, organized, and
safe production areas.
8. Cost Management and Productivity

* Monitor production costs and identify opportunities to improve
manufacturing efficiency.
* Manage labor utilization, overtime, scrap, rework, consumables,
material usage, and other controllable production expenses.
* Analyze production variances and work with Finance to
understand cost drivers and improve cost performance.
* Establish productivity metrics and monitor performance against
production targets.
* Balance labor efficiency, production output, equipment
utilization, and quality requirements.
* Recommend operational improvements that reduce costs without
compromising product quality, employee safety, or delivery
commitments.
9. Team Leadership and Employee Development

* Initially lead a team of approximately 30–40 employees,
including production operators, technicians, and process
technicians.
* Provide clear direction, establish performance expectations,
and maintain accountability across the production organization.
* Support recruiting, onboarding, training, skills development,
performance management, attendance, and employee relations.
* Develop training plans and skills matrices to ensure employees
are qualified to perform assigned responsibilities.
* Establish consistent communication practices across shifts to
maintain operational continuity.
* Coach employees and emerging team leaders, promoting ownership,
problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
* Work with leadership to develop the supervisory structure as
production expands.
* Transition from direct oversight of a smaller production team
toward broader management of supervisors, team leaders, and
multiple production groups as the organization grows.
10. Cross-Functional and International Collaboration

* Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality,
Regulatory, Planning, Materials, Supply Chain, Warehouse, EHS,
HR, and Finance.
* Coordinate production priorities, resource requirements,
equipment readiness, material availability, and quality
initiatives across departments.
* Collaborate with China-based management and technical teams to
support operational alignment, knowledge sharing, and
manufacturing development.
* Communicate production performance, operational challenges,
resource requirements, and significant risks to the Plant Manager
and other relevant stakeholders.
* Participate in operational reviews, audits, process-change
discussions, and capacity-planning activities.
* Support the development of a strong, collaborative operating
culture as the U.S. manufacturing organization becomes
established and expands.
Required Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation,
Operations, or a related discipline; equivalent manufacturing
leadership experience will also be considered.
* At least seven years of manufacturing experience, including a
minimum of three years in a Production Manager, Senior Production
Supervisor, or comparable production leadership position.
* Demonstrated experience managing production employees,
technicians, team leaders, or supervisors in a manufacturing
environment.
* Strong understanding of production planning, labor allocation,
shop-floor management, manufacturing processes, and operational
performance metrics.
* Experience implementing standard operating procedures, work
instructions, production controls, or manufacturing process
improvements.
* Practical knowledge of Lean manufacturing, 5S/6S, root-cause
analysis, and continuous improvement.
* Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering,
Maintenance, Quality, or EHS.
* Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify
operational issues, develop solutions, and drive implementation.
* Proficiency with manufacturing systems, such as ERP, MRP, or
MES, as well as Microsoft Excel and production data analysis.
* Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
* Professional English proficiency for employee leadership,
safety communication, documentation, and cross-functional
collaboration.
* Ability to work onsite in Jonesville, North Carolina, with
flexibility to support a 24/7 production environment, including
varying shifts, weekends, and urgent operational needs.
Preferred Qualifications

* Experience in consumer electronics, electronic component
assembly, automated manufacturing, small-product assembly, or
battery-powered products.
* Exposure to FDA-regulated manufacturing, nicotine products, or
other regulated consumer product environments.
* Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems, product
traceability, document control, and audit requirements.
* Experience supporting production launches, equipment
commissioning, new product introduction (NPI), pilot builds, or
capacity ramp-ups.
* Knowledge of TPM, OEE, preventive maintenance coordination, and
structured problem-solving methodologies.
* Familiarity with applicable ESD, IPC, UL, or customer-specific
manufacturing and quality standards.
* Lean Six Sigma, ASQ, or other relevant continuous improvement
certification.
* Mandarin proficiency to support communication with China-based
management, engineering teams, and suppliers.
Greenfield manufacturing experience, direct e-cigarette
manufacturing experience, and formal ISO certifications are not
mandatory.

Measures of Success

Performance will be evaluated based on the Production Manager's
ability to establish stable manufacturing operations, develop
employees, and support ongoing facility expansion.

Safety and Compliance

* Reduction in workplace incidents and unsafe conditions.
* Timely completion of safety training and corrective actions.
* Compliance with applicable operational, documentation, and
audit requirements.
Quality

* Improved first-pass yield and reduced scrap and rework.
* Timely resolution of nonconformances and corrective actions.
* Consistent adherence to manufacturing procedures and
traceability requirements.
Production and Efficiency

* Achievement of production schedules and delivery commitments.
* Improved throughput, labor productivity, and equipment
utilization.
* Reduced downtime, changeover times, and production bottlenecks.
* Effective execution of production launch and capacity expansion
plans.
People and Organizational Development

* Effective staffing and training of production teams.
* Development of employee skills and future supervisors.
* Consistent execution of operating procedures and performance
expectations.
* Successful transition to a scalable supervisory and production
leadership structure.
Work Environment and Schedule

This is a full-time, onsite leadership role within a developing
manufacturing facility. The operation is expected to run
continuously, 24 hours per day and seven days per week, utilizing
a rotating 12-hour shift schedule.

The Production Manager will have an overlapping daytime
leadership presence while maintaining the flexibility to support
other shifts, weekends, urgent production issues, and operational
escalations when necessary.

The position requires a visible shop-floor leadership presence,
regular interaction with production employees, and the ability to
work in manufacturing and controlled-environment areas while
following applicable PPE and safety requirements, with or without
reasonable accommodation.

Compensation and Benefits

* Base salary: $120,000–$150,000, depending on experience and
role scope.
* Target incentive: 10%–15%.
* Medical insurance and additional company benefits.
* Relocation assistance may be available depending on the
candidate's circumstances and company policy.
Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified
applicants will receive consideration based on their
qualifications, skills, and experience without discrimination
based on any characteristic protected by applicable law.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified
applicants and employees.

Production Manager

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