Production Manager

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Electronics.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

Everything we do in EMD Electronics is to help us deliver on our purpose of being the company behind the companies, advancing digital living. We are dedicated to being the trusted supplier of high-tech materials, services and specialty chemicals for the electronics, automotive and cosmetics industries. We foster a global collaborative organization made up of individuals who have the passion to win, obsess about the customer, are relentlessly curious and act with urgency. Together, we push the boundaries of science to make more possible for our customers.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
 

Location: 

The Production Manager is an onsite position located in Branchburg, NJ.  There will be up to 25% domestic and international travel required to meet business needs.

Your Role:

The Production Manager is accountable for safe, compliant, and reliable execution of blending and chemical manufacturing operations supporting semiconductor patterning materials – including photoresists, anti-reflective/underlayer coatings (BARC/CUL), and ancillary process solutions (EBR, rinses, thinners) at the Branchburg, NJ campus. This role owns day-to-day production execution against demand forecasts within the blending/manufacturing portion of the value stream and is responsible for improving process capability, safety, quality, and productivity through strong chemical process engineering, data driven root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

This position combines production leadership with hands-on process engineering and analytical problem solving. The Production Manager partners closely with Quality Control, EHS, Facilities Maintenance & Engineering, Supply Chain, Scale-Up, and R&D, and plays a critical role in sustaining the high-purity, low-variability manufacturing performance required by key semiconductor customers expected in semiconductor materials operations. In addition, this role will be responsible for managing and executing global technology transfers in support of supply network optimization and localization efforts to ensure the Formulations business is well-positioned for future success. This position reports directly to the Branchburg Site Director and requires a daily on-site presence.

Key Responsibilities:

Production Execution & Planning

• Own end-to-end daily execution of formulation, packaging, and shipping operations to meet production plans and customer demand forecasts.
• Translate demand signals into short-interval production schedules, staffing plans, batch calculations, and campaign strategies for patterning material assets.
• Monitor plan vs. actual performance; identify constraints and drive corrective actions to ensure schedule attainment.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to align raw material availability, WIP targets, and manufacturing priorities, from raw material receipt through final QC release, packaging, labeling, and outbound logistics.
• Own shift handover rigor, visual management, and daily tier meetings within the manufacturing area.

Process Engineering & Technical Ownership

• Own blending and formulation process performance, including operating envelopes, control limits, and process recipes.
• Develop, review, and maintain manufacturing procedures to ensure safe, stable, and efficient operation of production assets.
• Lead technical troubleshooting of yield, quality, and process stability issues using first-principles chemical engineering and statistical methods.
• Support new product introductions (NPI), technology transfers, and scale-up activities within the manufacturing scope.

Quality, Data Analysis & Root Cause

• Lead complex deviation investigations, customer complaints, and internal quality excursions within manufacturing scope.
• Apply statistical process control (SPC) and multivariate analysis (e.g., PCA/PLS) to identify process drivers and sources of variation.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Quality Control to evaluate analytical trends, define corrective actions, and verify effectiveness (CAPA).
• Drive continuous improvement of process capability (Cpk/Ppk), variability reduction, and first time right performance.
• Work to achieve site quality targets: scrap reduction, blocked stock reduction, and decrease in customer complaints related to product quality.

Continuous Improvement (Lean / Six Sigma)

• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, cycle time, yield, waste reduction, and cost.
• Apply Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to improve operational discipline and sustain gains.
• Quantify and communicate the business impact of improvement initiatives to site leadership and global CI stakeholders.

People Leadership & Culture

• Directly manage and develop manufacturing operators and shift leads; own training plans, qualification matrices, and skills development for the production team.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide regular feedback, and address performance issues as required.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, continuous learning, and high-impact behaviors aligned with EMD Electronics values.
• Foster management by walking around (MBWA) – actively coach the team, build trust, and drive engaged performance on the shop floor.

EHS & Management Systems

• Actively promote a zero harm culture and set the standard through personal safe work behaviors; support BeSafe (behavioral safety) and 6S programs on the production floor.
• Ensure full compliance with EHS requirements, including LOTO/Energy Isolation, Work Permitting, Electrical Safety, PPE, and Dangerous Goods handling.
• Lead or support investigations of incidents and near misses within the manufacturing area; implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure manufacturing operations comply with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 requirements; support readiness for agency inspections and customer audits.

Facilities, Assets & Maintenance Coordination

• Partner with Facilities Maintenance & Engineering on equipment reliability, troubleshooting, upgrades, and change management (MOC) to ensure safe, compliant, and uninterrupted operation of production assets.
• Support capital planning for production equipment; provide input to business cases aligned with the site technology roadmap for patterning materials.
• Support automation-enabled process improvements and data availability for manufacturing and quality analysis.

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in chemical engineering or equivalent technical degree.
• 5+ years of experience either supervising or directly supporting chemical manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience supervising production or engineering teams.
• Proven experience leading root cause investigations and CAPA using data driven and statistical approaches.
• Experience supporting production in an ERP environment (SAP preferred).

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in chemical engineering or equivalent advanced technical degree.
• Experience manufacturing high-purity chemical and/or semiconductor materials manufacturing (photolithography patterning materials – photoresists, BARC/CUL, ancillary solutions).
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred).
• Hands-on experience with SPC and multivariate data analysis for manufacturing and quality applications.
• Strong chemical process engineering capability, including troubleshooting, scale‑up, and process optimization.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing EHS requirements.
• Familiarity with manufacturing analytics tools (e.g., JMP, Minitab, Python, or equivalent).
• Experience working with automation and control systems (e.g., Rockwell/ Allen Bradley, FactoryTalk).
• Experience operating in ISO-certified manufacturing environments.
• Highly collaborative, able to work effectively across functions and support an environment of innovation and creative change.
• Ability to multitask, manage multiple high priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!