Manager, Manufacturing

About the role

We are hiring a Manufacturing Manager to join our Operations team. This is an on-site leadership role based in Vista, California, with significant visibility across plant operations and cross-functional teams. Reporting to the Director, Plant Manager, this role leads manufacturing operations and production teams to ensure products are produced safely, efficiently, and in alignment with quality, delivery, and cost expectations. As a Manufacturing Manager, you'll play a key leadership role in driving operational performance while helping create an environment where employees can thrive. We look for candidates that exhibit The Watkins Way (always Ethical, endeavors to be Transparent, embraces Inclusion, welcomes Diverse backgrounds and perspectives, Accommodating, believes in Work-Life Balance, puts Safety First, Accountable, values Relationships, Passionate, Team Player, and Goal Driven).

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily production activities and provide direction to supervisors and production teams.
• Collaborate closely with planning, logistics, quality, procurement, inventory, and maintenance partners to keep operations running smoothly.
• Provide leadership across 15 production departments and supporting functions, helping supervisors and teams achieve production goals while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and support production employees and supervisors through coaching, performance management, employee development initiatives, and ongoing feedback while fostering a culture focused on engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor manufacturing KPIs, implement quality control processes, partner with quality teams to resolve production issues, and lead continuous improvement efforts using lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to enhance productivity and reduce inefficiencies.
• Champion workplace safety by enforcing safety standards, conducting audits, leading incident investigations, implementing corrective actions, and ensuring compliance with OSHA and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Partner with procurement, inventory, planning, logistics, and maintenance teams to ensure material availability, manage equipment readiness, support production continuity, and control operational costs while meeting business objectives.
• Analyze performance metrics, prepare and present production reports, communicate operational performance across functional teams, and provide insights that support strategic planning and continuous operational improvement.
• Help drive improvements in production efficiency, quality performance, safety outcomes, delivery reliability, cost control, employee performance, and overall operational effectiveness.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.