The Global Filter Production Manager will report to the VP of Operations & General Manager and will be based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Production Manager is a strategic leader entrusted with overseeing all manufacturing activities. They play a pivotal role in Global Filter’s success by providing exceptional leadership and professional development to the manufacturing team. The Production Manager will have a strong understanding of the Global Filter product portfolio, production processes & procedures, lean manufacturing best practices, superior leadership methods, and effective strategies for implementing changes.

The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated quick learner, highly organized and focused, with sufficient technical inclination and a strong bias for action. The candidate will possess a customer-centric mindset, quality control skills, sound communication skills, analytical skills, & the technical knowledge to adapt to customers’ needs through problem solving. The Production Manager must also effectively collaborate with all levels of the organization and be comfortable presenting and utilizing video and/or phone conferencing tools.

• Develops and execute the overall manufacturing operational strategy aligned with the company’s goals and objectives
• Builds upon and leads a top-tier, zero-injury, safety culture by ensuring the facility upholds safety and environmental best practices and regulations
• Leads and guides the manufacturing team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) geared towards driving operational efficiencies
• Ensures the manufacturing team is adhering to the established standards, identifies gaps, and establishes countermeasures to close those gaps
• Develops and implements best practices in areas such as production planning, inventory management, quality control, and cost reduction
• Partners and leads support functions to drive continuous improvement in process performance, quality delivery, productivity, root cause corrective actions, and capacity
• Leads and supports training and quality assurance programs through our continuous education program, Global University
• Implements lean manufacturing practices to identify waste, streamline processes, and reduce variability
• Builds a high-performing manufacturing team that sets the standard for accountability through team development, performance management, and staffing
• Consistently available to production staff; ensures work responsibilities are covered when not available
• Partners with internal teams to support projects associated with new or existing product initiatives
• Identifies and addresses skill gaps through training and development initiatives
• Collaborates with customer service, product management, sales, and other internal teams to ensure that customer needs are met, as needed
• Serves as a role model for Frontline Obsession by holding regular, cadenced communication with the frontline team and having a strong presence on the production floor
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for responding to questions from both internal and external customers
• Proficient at influencing others while demonstrating a confident and positive attitude
• Must possess strong problem-solving skills to lead resolution efforts focused on creating an exceptional quality for our customers
• Knowledge on lean manufacturing & six sigma and implementation of best practices is required
• Ability to work independently as a self-starter, take initiative to provide solutions in the absence of perfect data
• Must be able to adapt and work effectively with a variety of customers and changing situations
• Possess excellent organizational skills with very effective attention to detail
• Robust time management skills are essential
• Skilled at working within deadlines and prioritizing multiple projects with minimal supervision to meet changing business needs
• Demonstrated organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality
• Must be committed to expanding product knowledge and utilizing all available resources while striving for continuous improvement, both professionally and for business success
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office; specifically, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word
• Particularly strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Working knowledge of teleconference tools

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field is required; or in absence of degree, ten (10) years of experience leading operations in a production manufacturing environment is required
• Ten (10) years of operations experience in a high-volume production manufacturing environment is preferred
• Five (5) years of experience leading operations teams in a production manufacturing environment is required
• Ideal candidate will be a demonstrated leader with a proven ability to lead in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, working collaboratively with all functional support areas
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings & specifications
• Process filtration experience strongly preferred
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products and ERP Systems
• Willingness to work side-by-side with all levels of the team

Ideal Attributes

• Exceptional attitude!!
• Driven to succeed – creative, self-starter
• Trusting & supportive leader with ability to help the Global Filter team succeed
• Excellent problem-solving skills & entrepreneurial mindset
• Must be a strong team-player with the ability to work autonomously
• Strong Bias for Action! Willingness to take ownership of identifying & implementing solutions!
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills as well as ability to utilize appropriate e-mail and telephone etiquette
• Strong time-management skills and the ability to organize and prioritize

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do the following:

• Sit or stand for prolonged periods.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds at times
• Work flexible hours.

This is a general description of the Duties, Responsibilities and Qualifications required for this position. Physical, mental, sensory, or environmental demands may be referenced to communicate the way this position traditionally is performed. Whenever necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal employment opportunity, Filtration Group will consider reasonable accommodations that might involve varying job requirements and/or changing the way this job is performed, provided that such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship.

Filtration Group is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all team members, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetics, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  We believe the work we do and the mission we spread is at it’s best when everyone feels free to be their most authentic self.

More About Filtration Group

Filtration Group is on a mission to make the world safer, healthier, and more productive. With a passionate workforce, global footprint and world class engineering and manufacturing capabilities, we are driving innovation and developing solutions across a broad spectrum of applications in the fast-growing and rapidly-evolving global filtration industry. We are committed to maintaining an entrepreneurial culture built on a foundation of trust and in which our leaders exhibit a strong bias for action.

Global Filter is part of Filtration Group. Filtration Group is a global market-leading provider of filtration consumables that drives innovation and delivers solutions across a broad spectrum of applications and end-markets, with a focus on life sciences, indoor air quality, and industrial technologies.

The Company began in 2009 and has rapidly grown organically and through a thoughtful acquisition strategy to be a global leader in the highly attractive filtration industry. Filtration Group operates across a wide variety of attractive end markets and produces mission critical products with high replacement rates. Over 80 percent of the Company’s revenue comes from replacement / consumable products, many of which are specified into customer’s products or processes.

With a global workforce of nearly 10,000 dedicated team members and a footprint that spans 27 countries, we are committed to partnering closely with our customers to further our mission to make the world safer, healthier, and more productive.

Cultivating Talent and building strong Teams are critical to our success. We know that fulfilling our mission is only possible when we foster an entrepreneurial culture built on a foundation of trust, in which our leaders exhibit a strong bias for action. Join us as we build a truly remarkable company that will long outlast us!