Production Manager

About Deneen Pottery

Deneen Pottery is a family‑owned, handmade pottery company with over 50 years of experience in St. Paul, MN. We produce custom ceramic mugs and drinkware for a diverse clientele, including colleges, breweries, and national parks. Our culture is rooted in accountability, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.

Production Manager – Full‑Time, On‑Site, St. Paul, MN. Reports directly to the CEO / Integrator and oversees five production department leaders (Pottery, Handles & Medallions, Pressing & Molds, Finishing, Shipping) and approximately 70 employees. The role leads daily execution, continuous improvement, and cross‑department collaboration.

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable the five production department leaders.
• Own day‑to‑day production flow, working with the Technical Operations Leader on schedule, ERP accuracy, and improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate pace, throughput, and cross‑department flow to meet ship dates.
• Maintain plant‑wide visibility on material ordering, work‑in‑progress (WIP), and finished‑goods inventory.
• Ensure timely quality execution, issue response, and coordination with Customer Success.
• Maintain strong floor presence, culture, and performance accountability.

• Be a visible, steady leader on the floor.
• Build trust and accountability with department leaders.
• Coach leaders to develop people, not just manage tasks.
• Reinforce culture through clarity, follow‑through, and example.
• Retain strong performers and address under‑performance early.

• 3+ years leading a production team of 70+ in manufacturing or skilled trades.
• Experience in food production, skilled manufacturing, or similar; pottery knowledge not required.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, Lean principles, continuous improvement, and inventory management.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, communication, and accountability.
• Bilingual in English and Hmong is highly preferred.

• Strong people leadership and leader‑development mindset.
• Instinct for culture fit, accountability, and team health.
• Comfortable addressing tough people issues directly.
• Ability to manage multiple departments through leaders.
• Good judgment under pressure and strong communication follow‑through.

Within one year, department leaders will demonstrate stronger accountability, production will flow with fewer stalls, people issues will be addressed proactively, and the overall culture will be healthier and more consistent.

• Base salary: $110,000–$120,000 (commensurate with experience).
• Health insurance, paid time off, and additional benefits discussed during the process.

St. Paul, Minnesota – fully on‑site.