Production Manager
Ripple Foods
Product
Alsip, IL, USA
Confidential Production Manager – High-Speed Manufacturing | South Suburbs of Chicago
A large, well-capitalized manufacturing organization in the south suburbs of Chicago is seeking a Production Manager to lead day-shift operations at a recently upgraded, highly automated plant.
This is a high-impact leadership role inside a stable, nationally recognized consumer products manufacturer with a long track record of reinvesting in its people, production technology, automation, and facility infrastructure. The site is large-scale, fast-paced, and highly visible within the broader organization, making this an excellent opportunity for a proven manufacturing leader who enjoys being close to the operation and driving results through people.
Why this opportunity stands out
- $108K–$130K base salary
- 20% annual bonus (historically pays out at or above target)
- Newly upgraded, highly automated manufacturing environment
- Strong long-term stability with continued investment in plant operations, equipment, and workforce
- Opportunity to lead within a large, team-oriented operation where leadership visibility and impact are significant
What you’ll be doing
This role is built for a hands-on production leader who wants to be on the floor, not behind a desk.
You’ll spend roughly 85% of your time on the production floor, coaching teams, solving production challenges in real time, and driving daily operational execution.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading day-shift production operations in a high-speed automated manufacturing environment
- Managing 4 direct reports (leadership-level team members) and influencing roughly 50 indirect reports
- Driving performance against safety, quality, throughput, uptime, and efficiency KPIs
- Coaching supervisors, operators, and technical teams through both operational and personnel-related challenges
- Partnering cross-functionally with maintenance, engineering, and plant leadership to keep production goals on track
- Supporting a culture of accountability, communication, and continuous improvement
What we’re looking for
This company is specifically seeking a leader who is visible, confident, and highly engaged with the operation.
Strong fit candidates will have:
- 3+ years of management experience, ideally managing leaders or multiple layers of staff
- Experience in high-speed, automated manufacturing environments
- Background in bottling, food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, packaging, CPG, or other FDA-regulated manufacturing
- A leadership style centered around coaching, mentoring, and floor presence
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate different personalities across production and leadership teams
Additional details
- Location: South suburbs of Chicago
- Schedule: Day shift
- Compensation: $108,000–$130,000 base + bonus
- Work environment: Large-scale union manufacturing operation
- Relocation: Local candidates preferred
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys leading from the floor, building strong teams, and making a visible operational impact in a modern manufacturing environment.
If you have experience in high-speed production leadership and enjoy developing teams while driving plant performance, I’d be glad to share more details confidentially.