HR Consulting Solutions is a full-service HR consulting and executive search firm that has been retained by Premier Candle Corporation to conduct a search for an experienced Production Manager to oversee daily manufacturing operations at their facility in Hickory, Kentucky.

ABOUT PREMIER CANDLE

Premier Candle is a leading manufacturer of scented candles and home fragrance products. Formerly known as Mayfield Consumer Products, the company has undergone significant transformation and investment following the devastating tornado that impacted the facility and community in 2021. Today, Premier Candle is focused on rebuilding, modernizing operations, investing in people, and creating a culture centered on safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. The organization operates multiple production lines and continues to invest in automation, equipment upgrades, process improvements, and employee development to support long-term growth. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader who enjoys leading production teams, improving operational performance, developing employees, and driving a culture focused on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the Production Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the manufacturing facility to ensure production goals are achieved while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, efficiency, and employee engagement. The Production Manager will provide hands-on leadership to production supervisors, team leaders, and production employees while coordinating production schedules, workflow, staffing, equipment utilization, and continuous improvement initiatives. This individual will play a critical leadership role in developing employees, driving accountability, and creating a positive, high-performing manufacturing culture.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production Operations

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to meet or exceed production schedules and operational objectives.
• Coordinate production start-ups, shutdowns, product changeovers, and workflow throughout the facility.
• Allocate labor and resources to maximize efficiency and productivity.
• Monitor production performance and implement timely corrective actions when goals are not being achieved.
• Ensure accurate production documentation and reporting.

Safety & Quality Leadership

• Champion a strong safety culture throughout the production department.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain excellent GMP and housekeeping standards throughout the facility.
• Ensure production consistently meets established quality standards and customer expectations.
• Partner with Quality and Maintenance to resolve production issues quickly and effectively.

Leadership & Employee Development

• Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and production employees.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, employee development, disciplinary actions, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and employee engagement.
• Create a positive work environment that promotes high morale and continuous improvement.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and workflow.
• Utilize production data and key performance indicators to drive operational improvements.
• Partner with Maintenance to maximize equipment uptime and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Support process improvements that reduce waste, improve throughput, and increase operational performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, Planning, and Plant Leadership to achieve company objectives.
• Ensure staffing levels and production schedules align with customer demand.
• Communicate production priorities and operational updates effectively across departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership or management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading production supervisors, team leaders, and large production teams.
• Demonstrated success managing day-to-day manufacturing operations in a high-volume production environment.
• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, workflow management, manufacturing processes, quality systems, and safety programs.
• Experience with employee performance management, coaching, discipline, and talent development.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a focus on safety, quality, productivity, and employee engagement.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing
• Candle manufacturing or related industries
• High-volume manufacturing operations
• GMP manufacturing environments
• Lean Manufacturing
• Continuous Improvement initiatives
• ERP or manufacturing software systems

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Production Leadership
• Manufacturing Operations
• Team Leadership & Employee Development
• Performance Management
• Safety Leadership
• Quality Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Lean Manufacturing
• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Root Cause Analysis
• Operational Excellence
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Decision Making
• Communication
• Accountability
• Time Management

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is based in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and requires regular interaction with production employees, supervisors, maintenance personnel, quality teams, warehouse staff, and plant leadership. The Production Manager should expect to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor leading employees, solving production challenges, coaching team members, monitoring performance, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The position requires the ability to work flexible hours, including overtime when necessary to support production requirements.

WHY WORK FOR PREMIER CANDLE

• Competitive compensation package
• Comprehensive health benefits
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with 4% company matching
• Paid vacation and company holidays
• Opportunity to join a growing manufacturing organization undergoing significant investment and transformation
• Collaborative leadership team committed to operational excellence and employee development
• Opportunity to make an immediate impact on production performance and plant culture

QUESTIONS

• Email us at [email protected]

Premier Candle Corporation and HR Consulting Solutions LLC are Equal Opportunity Employers. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. Our company is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants, providing everyone with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions within our organization are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.