Production Excellence Leader (Area Manager) at Continental — Sumter, SC

THE POSITION

• Lead daily production operations to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets are achieved.
• Manage production schedules and resources to maximize output while minimizing downtime and waste.
• Lead, coach, and develop production teams to build a high-performance culture.
• Drive quality standards and partner with quality teams to resolve issues through root cause analysis.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations, company policies, and environmental requirements.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Manage labor, materials, equipment, and inventory to support production goals.
• Monitor and analyze KPIs to drive data-based decisions and improve operational performance.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, logistics, and other departments to ensure production efficiency.
• Support the Continental Business System (CBS) by driving accountability, standardization, continuous improvement, and team performance.

NOTE: May not be inclusive of all work required and may be updated as needed.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field, with 7+ years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 14+ years of manufacturing supervisory/leadership experience or more if no relevant Bachelors Degree
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, with experience analyzing production data, tracking KPIs, developing reports, and presenting operational performance metrics to leadership.
• Proven experience leading production operations in a manufacturing environment, including production scheduling, resource planning, quality management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and manage salaried and hourly employees while driving accountability, performance, and employee engagement.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, KPI management, root cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Experience managing cross-functional partnerships with quality, maintenance, engineering, logistics, and supply chain teams, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems/ERP platforms.
• Proven problem-solving skills utilizing root cause analysis and continuous improvement methodologies to drive sustainable results.

For Internal candidates: Continental is able to offer visa and relocation support

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years Tire experience

THE ENVIRONMENT

• Safety is our highest priority and safety procedures / guidelines must be always adhered to. This includes safety wear such as steel toed shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses as needed
• This position may require standing for long periods and working in a manufacturing environment, which may involve exposure to noise, dust, heat, and machinery.
• May require evening or weekend work to meet production deadlines.

EEO-Statement: