Assistant Production Manager - UniFirst

UniFirst
Eagan/Minnesota/United States

Manufacturing
Full-time
assistant production manager
process improvement
team leadership

Our job summary

The Assistant Production Manager at UniFirst leads team training, enforces safety protocols, and drives continuous process improvements to optimize production efficiency. The role involves managing inventory, vendor relationships, and cross-departmental collaboration to meet quality and production targets while fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. Candidates should have leadership experience, financial acumen, and familiarity with Lean Six Sigma or ISO standards to support strategic operational improvements.

Assistant Production Manager

Careers that Always Deliver!

At UniFirst, we Always Deliver—for our customers and our people. Join us as an Assistant Production Manager, where you’ll lead team training, uphold facility standards, prioritize safety, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment. Reporting to the Production Manager, you’ll help guide a dynamic and diverse team while fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusiveness. Bring your leadership skills, process optimization expertise, and financial acumen to make a meaningful impact in our Production Department.

What Your Role Entails:

Optimize processes by partnering with the Production Manager to spearhead continuous improvement initiatives.

Achieve production targets while maintaining quality standards and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

Support and inspire team members to foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing work environment.

Foster a service-oriented culture that delivers exceptional value to internal and external stakeholders.

Ensure safety compliance by conducting regular inspections and providing training and proactive initiatives.

Oversee wastewater processes to optimize efficiency and minimize environmental impact.

Manage inventory, vendor relationships, and equipment maintenance to ensure seamless operations.

Assist development and implementation of production schedules while driving operational improvements.

Collaborate across departments, including Service, Sales, Maintenance, and Office, to align production goals with business objectives and our enterprise mindset.

Exhibit strategic agility to adapt to change, overcome challenges, and drive long-term success.

Support employee transitions by partnering with the Production Manager in hiring, onboarding, retention, and offboarding.

Core Competencies:

Leadership and Team Support: Ability to motivate, inspire, and foster collaboration within a diverse team while ensuring accountability and high performance.

Process Improvement and Efficiency: Expertise in optimizing production processes and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Strategic Adaptability: Capacity to navigate change, align cross-departmental goals, and support long-term success in a dynamic environment.

Why You’ll Enjoy This Role:

Variety and Impact: Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to innovate and lead in a dynamic environment.

Collaborative Culture: You’ll work with a diverse team and engage across multiple departments, fostering inclusiveness and shared success.

Professional Growth: UniFirst provides continuous training, career advancement opportunities, and a supportive environment for personal and professional development.

Qualifications

What You Bring to UniFirst:

Minimum 21 years of age.

Valid driver’s license and safe driving record is required.
High School diploma or GED equivalent is required.

Minimum 2 years of relevant leadership experience with strong team building and interpersonal relationships.

Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting, carrying, standing, and walking for extended periods.

Willingness to travel occasionally (less than 25%).

Bachelor's degree or 2+ years of production management experience, with leadership, process improvement skills, and industry best practices.

Financial literacy to analyze production costs and make data-driven decisions

Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.

Familiarity with ISO standards and/or Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

Commitment to safety and compliance initiatives.

Bilingual in English and Spanish is highly preferred.

You Will Benefit From:

Competitive salary with management bonus eligibility, 401K with company match, profit sharing, health and life insurance, paid time off, employee discounts, tuition reimbursement and more.

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