Production Manager

Job Title:

Director of Production & Operations

Location:

Haledon, NJ (On-site) Job Type: Full-Time

Schedule:

Standard business hours Salary:
Commensurate with experience

We are a privately held, fully vertical U.S. manufacturing company known for our rapid turnaround and on-time delivery of highly customized, deadline-driven goods for national clients. We are seeking a hands‑on Director of Production & Operations to be the driving force behind our daily plant operations.
This is a critical leadership position, reporting directly to ownership, responsible for the entire workflow—from concept and material sourcing through manufacturing, quality control, and outbound shipment. The ideal candidate lives on the production floor and thrives on coordinating speed, quality, and accountability to ensure event‑tied orders never miss a ship window.

• End‑to‑End Ownership: Own and manage the entire order flow, ensuring every product moves from design concept to final, accurate shipment on time.
• Team Leadership: Lead and manage four interconnected teams (Production, Sampling/Prototyping, Purchasing, and Shipping), totaling approximately 20 employees. Set clear goals, track performance, and maintain a culture of high accountability.
• Production Planning: Own the master production schedule
  , prioritizing event-driven and rush orders, sequencing work in real-time, and constantly adjusting capacity to protect on‑time delivery percentages.
• Materials & Inventory: Directly oversee all raw material purchasing and vendor management to ensure components are sourced, staged, and available ahead of production to eliminate shortages.
• Workflow Coordination: Run daily standups and cross‑functional meetings to troubleshoot bottlenecks across manufacturing processes (cutting, assembly, finishing) and maintain tight communication with Sales and Product Development.
• Quality & Metrics: Enforce strict quality standards, minimize rework/scrap, and track key operational metrics, including throughput, on‑time delivery, and first‑pass quality rate.
• Logistics Management: Direct the final packaging, documentation, and coordination of outbound logistics (parcel and LTL freight) to guarantee clean, accurate, and on‑schedule shipments.

• Minimum 7 years of hands‑on production and operations leadership experience within a high‑touch, light manufacturing environment producing customized physical goods (e.g., apparel, sewn goods, soft goods, print, or packaging).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple interdependent functions: production, scheduling, purchasing/materials, and shipping/logistics.
• A 'floor first' management style
  ; comfortable being present on the production floor to troubleshoot and direct operations, not just managing from a desk.
• Exceptional organizational skills, a calm problem‑solver under pressure, and a 'no excuses' mindset regarding critical client deadlines.
• Proven ability to drive urgency and speed without ever compromising product quality.

• A high‑impact leadership seat with full ownership over the plant's operational success and ultimate customer satisfaction.
• Direct access and high visibility to company ownership, allowing you to strategically shape the plant's daily function and processes.
• The opportunity to thrive in a fast‑paced environment where your decisiveness and hands‑on efforts directly translate into measurable success.