Production Manager

Role Overview

• Operate as a working manager, executing daily production tasks alongside the team, including BOM calculations, PO creation, and documentation management
• Share ownership of day-to-day workload with team members while enforcing process discipline, accuracy, and accountability
• Identify and correct errors in real-time across production planning, purchasing, and documentation workflows
• Lead by example — this role is not purely strategic or delegative
• Calculate raw material requirements per BOM across multiple SKUs and production runs
• Reconcile on-hand inventory, prior overages, and open POs before initiating new purchases
• Accurately track and apply yield, loss factors, and excess materials from previous runs
• Ensure material planning decisions are grounded in real inventory position, not assumptions
• Create and issue accurate purchase orders to suppliers and contract manufacturers
• Own the end-to-end inbound documentation process, including: Certificates of Analysis (COAs), Packing slips and shipping documents, Traceability and compliance documentation, Vendor/manufacturer communications
• Maintain a complete, consistent, and audit-ready paper trail across all transactions
• Ensure no material is received or approved without complete supporting documentation
• Coordinate directly with contract manufacturers and co-packers across multiple active production runs
• Issue production orders, track schedules, and proactively follow up on delays
• Manage the full lifecycle from production confirmation through finished goods receipt
• Hold vendors accountable to timelines, specifications, and documentation requirements
• Escalate risks, delays, and quality concerns as needed while maintaining clear communication records
• Manage large-scale, complex spreadsheets covering 150–200+ raw material suppliers
• Maintain high accuracy in a manual, process-heavy environment without ERP dependency
• Build and enforce structured tracking systems across inventory, purchasing, and production
• Ensure data integrity across all files, with zero tolerance for preventable errors
• Partner with Planning, Procurement, and Regulatory teams to align production schedules with demand
• Ensure accurate material availability to support production timelines
• Monitor production KPIs and flag risks impacting output, inventory, or timelines
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and traceability systems at all times
• Ensure adherence to GMP, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
• Standardize workflows and enforce SOP compliance across the team
• Drive continuous improvement in documentation accuracy and operational execution
• Directly manage and develop team members while remaining deeply involved in execution
• Reinforce strong attention to detail, process adherence, and ownership across the team
• Act as escalation point for issues while ensuring root cause resolution
• Build a culture of precision, accountability, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience with BOM management, including: Raw material calculations, Yield/overage adjustments, Inventory reconciliation prior to purchasing
• Advanced spreadsheet proficiency in manual, non-ERP environments
• Experience managing large, complex datasets across 100+ suppliers
• Proven ability to maintain accuracy without system safeguards
• Direct ownership of PO issuance and inbound documentation management, including: COAs, packing slips, shipping documents, and traceability records
• Maintaining complete, audit-ready documentation trails
• Proven player-coach experience
• Comfortable executing daily operational work while managing a team
• Not solely strategic or delegative in leadership style
• Experience managing contract manufacturers and co-packers, including: Production order issuance, Schedule tracking and follow-ups, Vendor accountability and escalation, End-to-end production and documentation lifecycle management
• Strong attention to detail with a zero-error mindset in high-risk operational environments
• Ability to manage multiple production workflows, suppliers, and documentation streams simultaneously
• Must be willing to work following Eastern Standard Time.
• Must be willing to use a time tracker to monitor productivity during work hours.

Tech Stack

• ERP