Production Manager - Change Agent, Springfield

Judge Direct Placement is partnering with a premier manufacturing leader in the
Springfield, IL
area to find a visionary
Production Manager
to lead a high-stakes evolution of their production plant.
This isn't just about maintaining the status quo; it's about a total operational rebirth.
We need a "Strategic Architect"—a leader who can dismantle inefficient legacy systems, bridge the gap between leadership and the line, and instill a world-class manufacturing mindset.
If you have the grit to overhaul a site and the emotional intelligence to bring the team with you, please apply.
Key Responsibilities
Cultural Alignment & Visionary Leadership
The New Baseline:
Define and enforce a culture rooted in mutual respect and extreme ownership; replace finger-pointing with collaborative problem-solving and rigorous accountability.
Bridge the Gap:
Act as the face of change, spending significant time on the floor to translate corporate strategy into actionable, relatable goals for the workforce.
Succession Planning:
Audit the human capital landscape; mentor emerging leaders and restructure teams to ensure the right people are in the right seats to support a high-performance environment.
Operational Engineering & Performance
Workflow Synthesis:
Re-engineer end-to-end production cycles to remove friction points and maximize "Value-Add" time via Kaizen events and Lean integration.
Metrics That Matter:
Implement real-time dashboarding for OEE, First-Pass Yield (FPY), and safety incidents to move from anecdotal reporting to data-driven reality.
Preventative Evolution:
Shift the maintenance and production philosophy from "break-fix" to predictive reliability, utilizing Pareto analysis to target the 20% of issues causing 80% of downtime.
Strategic Site Revitalization
Asset Rationalization:
Evaluate and optimize the use of floor space, machinery, and inventory to improve cash flow and spatial efficiency.
Financial Stewardship:
Oversee the P&L with a "Business Owner" mindset, prioritizing capital investments that shorten lead times and enhance competitive advantage.
Required Qualifications
Experience:
7+ years in manufacturing leadership, specifically within environments requiring heavy change management, cultural turnarounds, or significant efficiency scaling.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or Operations (Master's degree or MBA strongly preferred).
Certifications:
Lean Master, Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent mastery of continuous improvement frameworks.
Leadership Style:
A "boots-on-the-ground" leader who commands respect through competence and transparency, capable of navigating complex labor dynamics and driving individual accountability.
Analytical Edge:
Advanced proficiency in leveraging ERP data and IIoT insights to drive shop-floor behavior and long-term strategic planning.