Production Manager

Overview

Rodin Cars is looking for a seasoned Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations at our Mt Lyford site in Canterbury, New Zealand. As we shift from prototype and custom builds to standardized production, this key role demands a leader who can instill structure, maintain discipline, enhance transparency, and enforce accountability throughout the factory operations.

This hands-on leadership position involves overseeing production execution, controlling factory workflows, and promoting continuous manufacturing improvements to guarantee consistent delivery of high-quality products, on schedule, and within cost targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate detailed production plans and schedules aligned with project timelines.
• Lead production meetings regularly to ensure progress and enforce follow-up on action items.
• Coordinate tasks across various manufacturing departments including Additive, Machining, Assembly, and Composites.
• Manage work-in-progress monitoring to ensure efficient job flow.
• Detect and resolve capacity bottlenecks, delays, and resource conflicts promptly.
• Drive accountability to meet agreed production milestones and outputs.
• Ensure availability of appropriate staffing, materials, and resources to meet production goals.

A significant aspect of this role is championing the use of Epicor ERP to optimize manufacturing processes. Responsibilities include accurate management of BOMs, routings, work orders, production scheduling, labor tracking, inventory control, capacity planning, and reporting. Close collaboration with Engineering, Finance, and department heads is essential to maintain reliable manufacturing data.

• Identify inefficiencies and recurring issues to enhance workflow between departments.
• Reduce rework, delays, waste, and cost overruns through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Define ownership and accountability clearly across production stages.

You will develop and monitor key production performance indicators such as Safety, Quality, On-time Delivery, Cost, Productivity, WIP, Rework, Capacity, and Efficiency to provide senior management with transparent status updates and risk alerts without micro-managing individual jobs.

• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to embed quality within manufacturing processes beyond final inspections.
• Ensure adherence to quality standards and timely resolution of non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Support traceability, documentation, and approvals to strengthen production controls as volumes increase.

Leadership is critical in this role; you should be a proactive and visible presence in the factory, promoting a culture of ownership, communication, and continuous improvement while maintaining a safe and professional environment.

Additional Information

Applicants are requested to include in their cover letter their interest in production management at Rodin Cars, current location, and how their experience and approach make them ideal for this position.

Rodin Cars is an Accredited Employer and welcomes applications from candidates residing outside New Zealand. Relocation and visa assistance will be considered.