Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois

Lead Production. Elevate Quality. Empower People.

LaborPRO Staffing is hiring a Production leader for a valued manufacturing client. You will run day-to-day operations on the floor, guide a union workforce, and deliver on safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency in a fast-paced environment. If you are energized by hands-on leadership and continuous improvement, this role is for you. Bilingual English/Spanish communication is a plus.

Compensation highlight: In addition to a competitive salary, Production Supervisors receive time-and-a-half for overtime and for weekend shifts, recognizing the dedication and flexibility of our leadership team.

A day in the role

You arrive 20 minutes before the shift to ensure a smooth handoff. You check the attendance phone line, complete any required absence paperwork, and finalize the day’s plan. In IFS ERP, you assign the production schedule to the floor, confirm raw material availability, and place in-house supply requests—tracking every requisition until materials are received, staged, assigned, and back-flushed correctly. You arrange coverage for breaks and lunches, coordinate work when lines go down (often shifting to cleaning of lines and manifolds), and jump in with operators to resolve product or process issues.

Throughout the shift, you uphold start-up and shutdown procedures, partner with Quality Assurance to ensure GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, and housekeeping standards, and keep waste down while motivating your team toward targets. You coordinate flow among departments, communicate mechanical or process issues to the right contacts, and escalate major breakdowns to management and contractors. You complete a clear report on production, downtime, and issues before heading out—leaving the next shift set up for success.

Core responsibilities

• Oversee daily production operations to meet schedule, quality, and efficiency goals.
• Create an environment that drives productivity, quality, waste reduction, sanitation, and safety.
• Use IFS ERP to assign schedules on the floor and monitor material needs.
• Request materials from in-house supply; ensure timely receipt, proper assignment, and accurate back-flush.
• Staff coverage for breaks and lunches; arrive early for seamless shift handover.
• Check attendance phone line, document absences, and manage related paperwork.
• Coordinate work when lines are down, including cleaning lines and manifolds.
• Assist operators in resolving product and process issues.
• Supervise, train, and coordinate employees to uphold company rules, procedures, and GMPs.
• Coordinate production flow among departments to remove bottlenecks.
• Ensure proper start-up and shutdown procedures are followed.
• Maintain product quality through sanitation, housekeeping, and partnership with QA.
• Motivate the team to achieve efficiency targets and expectations.
• Escalate mechanical or process issues; follow up to resolution with management and contractors as needed.
• Champion safety, correct unsafe behaviors, and model best practices; ensure compliance with OSHA regulations.
• Report all injuries and near misses to the Plant Manager and HR at the time of injury; conduct accident investigations and implement timely corrective actions.
• Complete shift reports covering production, downtime, and problems.
• Work overtime, weekends, and other shifts as needed; perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• PC proficiency, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and order-processing systems.

Experience and skills

• Minimum 4 years of supervisory experience in confectionery, food, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
• Mechanical aptitude, including high-speed packaging machinery experience.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in a union environment is a plus.
• Familiarity with IFS, SAP, GMPs, HACCP, Safety, and OSHA.
• Ability to stand and walk for 8 hours and lift up to 50 pounds.