Production Manager

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Our client, an international industrial manufacturing group serving highly demanding markets, is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead and transform its production operations at a strategically important site in Italy.

Reporting directly to the Site Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and continuous improvement, while leading a skilled manufacturing workforce through a phase of performance enhancement and operational development.

The Role

As Production Manager , you will be responsible for defining, planning, and optimizing the human and material resources required to achieve production targets in line with safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives. Working closely with all internal functions and interfacing with suppliers and customers, you will ensure the efficient execution of manufacturing operations while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and oversee manufacturing operations in accordance with customer requirements and delivery schedules.
• Ensure On-Time Delivery (OTD) while maintaining the highest quality standards.
• Coordinate activities across the Group's manufacturing sites to optimize production flow and resource utilization.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, lead-time reduction, and cost optimization.
• Promote and deploy Group standard methodologies, best practices, and operational excellence tools.
• Develop and strengthen team capabilities to ensure reliable production of complex products.
• Provide daily leadership and direction to production teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Support employee engagement and participate in workplace safety discussions with employee representatives.
• Contribute to the implementation and development of the site's ERP platform (Odoo ) for production planning, scheduling, and reporting.
• Monitor, analyze, and report operational KPIs including:
• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Labor productivity
• Scrap and rework rates
• Production efficiency
• Actively contribute to the site's performance turnaround and long-term operational improvement strategy.

Key Accountabilities

• Guarantee safe manufacturing operations across the production environment.
• Ensure compliance with all quality standards, company procedures, and health & safety regulations.
• Drive operational excellence and manufacturing performance within the production area.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance workplace culture.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Deliver measurable improvements in direct and indirect labor productivity, reducing gaps versus Group and industry benchmarks.

Technical Skills

Technical & Professional Qualifications

• Technical or Engineering background.
• Proven experience in a Production Management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Solid knowledge of Continuous Improvement methodologies, including:
• 5S
• Kaizen
• Structured Problem Solving
• Lean Manufacturing principles
• Good understanding of production planning and shopfloor management processes.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and digital manufacturing tools.
• Very good understanding of ERP architecture and functionality.
• Fluent English is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in railway, naval sector/shipyards, aerospace, or other highly regulated manufacturing sectors .
• Knowledge of industry quality and safety frameworks such as:
• IRIS
• EN 50126
• EN 50129
• Equivalent Quality Management Systems
• Experience with Odoo or similar ERP/MES platforms.
• French language skills would be considered an advantage due to the Group's international structure.

Soft Skills

We are looking for a leader who brings:

• Strong reliability and accountability
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities
• Team-oriented leadership style
• Ability to motivate, coach, and develop people
• Strong prioritization and decision‑making capabilities
• Initiative and ownership mindset
• Capacity to lead by example
• Autonomy combined with a collaborative approach

This position offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact within an international industrial organization undergoing significant operational development. The role provides broad visibility, direct interaction with senior management, and the chance to lead strategic improvement initiatives that will shape the future performance of the site.

If you are a results-driven Production Manager with a passion for operational excellence, continuous improvement, and people leadership, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Location: Province of LA SPEZIA (Liguria – Italy)