Production Manager

Location: Los Angeles, CA (In-Office) | Full-time

LettrLabs is disrupting a $30B industry by uniting AI with tangible marketing. When a storm hits, our platform geo-locates to zip code, activates direct mail campaigns in minutes, and tracks every conversion back to digital, driving 5x return on conversions and 3x year-on-year growth for our customers.

The Production Manager is responsible for the overall performance, culture, and continuous improvement of production operations. This role leads the production leadership team and floor employees to deliver safe, high-quality, on-time output while driving measurable gains in productivity, equipment reliability, and cost.

The Production Manager will own production planning, staffing strategy, performance management, Lean and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) programs, and the development of people at every level. They will lead and develop Assistant Production Managers (APMs) and production leads, partner closely with Maintenance, Quality, and company leadership, and translate business goals into clear, measurable plans for the production floor.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, people-first leader with a proven Lean and TPM track record who builds capable teams, makes decisions with data, and creates a culture of ownership, standard work, and continuous improvement.

• Champion a zero-harm safety culture and hold all levels accountable to safety standards.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA requirements and company safety, LOTO, and PPE policies.

• Lead incident investigations, near-miss reviews, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Champion quality to maintain product standards, reduce defects and rework, and resolve customer issues.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe facility through routine audits and walkthroughs.

• Lead, coach, and develop APMs, production leads, and floor employees; build a strong bench for future leadership roles.

• Hire, onboard, and retain top talent; partner with HR on staffing plans, job descriptions, and recruiting.

• Set clear expectations, conduct regular one-on-ones, and complete performance reviews and development plans.

• Address performance, attendance, and conduct issues promptly, fairly, and consistently in partnership with HR.

• Build a skills matrix and cross-training plan to improve flexibility and coverage across all roles.

• Own the production training program, ensuring employees are trained and certified on SOPs, equipment, quality, and safety.

• Recognize good performance and create an environment of engagement, accountability, respect, and open communication.

• Approve schedules and labor plans, monitor overtime, and ensure adequate coverage across shifts.

• Own the overall performance of production operations, including safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

• Set daily, weekly, and monthly production goals aligned with business priorities and customer commitments.

• Lead a tiered daily management system (shift tag-ups, tier meetings, visual boards) so priorities, problems, and actions are visible and owned.

• Develop and manage production plans and schedules in partnership with APMs, ensuring capacity, labor, materials, and equipment are aligned to demand.

• Manage the priority lane and time-sensitive work to protect on-time delivery.

• Establish, maintain, and audit standard work and SOPs across all production areas.

• Monitor workflow and bottlenecks in real time and make staffing and resource decisions to keep work moving.

• Serve as the escalation point for production abnormalities and ensure issues are contained, corrected, and prevented from recurring.

• Lead the site’s Lean strategy and build a culture where every employee identifies and eliminates waste.

• Plan and facilitate kaizen events, value stream mapping, and process improvement projects with clear targets and follow-through.

• Deploy and sustain 5S, visual management, standard work, and error-proofing (poka-yoke) on the production floor.

• Apply structured problem-solving to recurring quality, delivery, and equipment issues.

• Track and report improvement savings and results to leadership.

• Lead the TPM program in partnership with the Maintenance Technician(s) to maximize equipment uptime and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

• Implement autonomous maintenance so operators own daily cleaning, inspection, lubrication, and basic checks (CILs) on their equipment.

• Own the preventive maintenance schedule and ensure planned maintenance is completed on time; coordinate third-party vendors and service providers as needed.

• Track downtime, losses, and failure trends and lead root cause analysis on chronic equipment issues.

• Maintain critical spare parts strategy and ensure equipment documentation, fault code references, and manuals are current.

• Drive focused improvement projects that increase availability, performance, and quality rates.

• Ensure LOTO and machine safety procedures are followed during all maintenance and troubleshooting activities.

• Oversee inventory accuracy, cycle counts, receiving, and material flow to prevent shortages and excess stock.

• Partner with purchasing and leadership on material planning, supply forecasting, and vendor performance.

• Ensure sample packs, trade show materials, and production supplies are properly managed and available.

• Oversee Pitney Bowes mail slips and other required production tracking processes.

• Own facility upkeep for the production area, including repairs, recurring services, and space planning.

• 5+ years of progressive production or operations leadership experience, including at least 2 years managing supervisors or team leads.

• Proven experience leading Lean manufacturing initiatives with measurable results

• Hands-on experience implementing or sustaining a TPM program, including autonomous and preventive maintenance and OEE tracking.

• Demonstrated success hiring, coaching, and developing people and building high-performing teams.

• Strong working knowledge of OSHA safety standards, LOTO, and incident investigation.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to lead from the floor to the leadership table.

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering, (or equivalent experience).

• Experience in print, mail, fulfillment, packaging, or similar high-mix production environments.

• Experience with ERP/MRP, CMMS, or production scheduling software.

Pay Range: $90,000 to $110,000 depending on experience

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Equity in a fast-growing company [confirm]

• 401(k) plan

• Flexible PTO and paid holidays

• On-site gym

• Pet-friendly

• Free daily lunch, team off-sites, and happy hours

• Located in the heart of Marina Del Rey, a walkable neighborhood with easy access to shops, restaurants, and the marina