McDanel Glass Solutions
Production Department Manager
Department: Conventional Vial
Job Status: Full Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Type: Regular
Reports To: General Manager
Revision Level: 2
Position Summary
The Department Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, management, and overall performance of the assigned manufacturing department. This position oversees departmental operations, personnel, equipment, safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance to ensure operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
The Department Manager provides visible leadership by maintaining an active presence within the department, establishing clear expectations, developing employees, monitoring operational performance, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This role is responsible for building a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, and employee development while ensuring departmental goals align with company objectives.
Working closely with Production Planning, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Human Resources, the Department Manager utilizes performance data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and continuous improvement practices to improve operational effectiveness, develop talent, and support long-term business success.
All work is to be completed in a professional manner consistent with the Mission & Vision Statement/Core Values and company policies.
Essential Functions
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions Statement(s)
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the department to ensure safe, efficient, and effective manufacturing operations.
- Demonstrate reliable attendance, punctuality, and dependability to provide consistent leadership and support departmental operations.
- Maintain a consistent and visible presence on the production floor to monitor operations, coach employees, identify opportunities for improvement, and remove barriers to production.
- Make timely operational decisions that support safety, quality, productivity, and customer requirements.
- Promote accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and adherence to the Company's Core Values.
- Promote and maintain a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, company safety policies, and housekeeping standards.
- Collaborate with Production Planning to ensure production schedules, staffing, raw materials, and customer commitments are achieved.
- Ensure tooling, machinery, and production equipment are maintained in partnership with Maintenance and Engineering to maximize equipment reliability and manufacturing capability.
- Ensure departmental compliance with quality standards while driving continuous improvement initiatives to improve product quality and customer satisfaction.
- Support customer audits, quality investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and technical inquiries.
- Monitor, analyze, and communicate departmental performance through key performance indicators (KPIs), including safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, scrap, downtime, labor utilization, and on-time delivery; develop action plans to achieve performance objectives.
- Reduce manufacturing costs through scrap reduction, process improvements, improved equipment utilization, reduced downtime, and efficient labor deployment.
- Lead hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, disciplinary actions, and succession planning for department personnel.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations and establish employee development plans that support career growth and organizational objectives.
- Foster employee engagement through effective communication, coaching, recognition, and conflict resolution while partnering with Human Resources as appropriate.
- Communicate departmental goals, priorities, expectations, and performance through regular meetings and daily interaction.
- Partner with cross-functional departments including Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Customer Service, and Human Resources to support company initiatives.
- Maintain accurate departmental records, reports, and documentation.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills & Abilities
Education
- High School Diploma/GED required.
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and/or manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
Experience
- Minimum 3–5 years of supervisory or management experience in a manufacturing environment required.
- Experience leading production teams, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and managing operational performance.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, or other continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
- Experience with employee performance management, coaching, and development.
- Experience supporting customer audits and quality management systems preferred.
Language Skills
- Must be able to read/write/communicate in English.
- Ability to effectively communicate with employees at all levels of the organization.
Computer Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
- Experience using ERP/MRP/inventory management systems and production reporting software.
Competencies
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational, planning, and time management abilities.
- Ability to analyze production data and make sound business decisions.
- Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong conflict resolution and employee coaching skills.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and motivate employees.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.
- Demonstrates accountability, professionalism, and sound judgment.
- Exemplifies the Company’s Core Values.
Physical Demands
- Requires frequent walking and standing throughout the facility, and for extended periods of time, including travel between production departments, offices, and support areas.
- Ability to consistently lift/carry/push/pull 25+ lbs.
- Ability to occasionally lift/carry/push/pull 40+ lbs.
- Ability to regularly use pallet jack to move materials/products.
- Ability to climb stairs and access production equipment, as needed.
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, noise, and moving machinery.
- Ability to visually perform detailed inspections of product quality and machine performance.
- Ability to audibly detect machine performance.
Work Environment
- Glass manufacturing operations facility.
- Can be exposed to elevated temperatures during certain seasons.
- Walking and working surfaces may include concrete floors, grated platforms, stairs, and diamond plate floor coverings in designated areas.
- Must safely navigate manufacturing equipment, pedestrian aisles, pallet jacks, forklifts, and other powered industrial traffic while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).
- May occasionally be required to work outside normal business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, or holidays, to support operational needs, emergencies, customer requirements, or production schedules.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
