Production Manager / Manufacturing Lead

Location: Kyiv, on-site

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Production Manager to establish and lead our production processes, ensuring quality, efficiency, and scalability. This role is critical as we transition from R&D to serial production. You will build production workflows, manage in-house and outsourced production, and ensure the quality of all outputs, regardless of the manufacturing model. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mechanical assembly, a track record of building and managing teams, and the ability to establish processes in a rapidly evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Process Design & Implementation:

  • Develop and implement production workflows, assembly instructions, and quality control systems for both in-house and outsourced production.

  • Standardize workflows, labeling, and order management to streamline production.

  • Ensure serial production readiness by finalizing BOMs, specifications, and assembly instructions in collaboration with the R&D team.

• Manufacturing Management:

  • Oversee production processes, whether in-house or through external partners, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

  • Establish KPIs to track efficiency, quality, and costs for all production activities.

  • Maintain responsibility for production quality, including external manufacturing partners.

• Team Leadership & Collaboration:

  • Build and manage production teams for in-house operations and external partnerships, optimizing daily operations.

  • Collaborate with R&D, procurement and logistics team to streamline production processes and material procurement.

  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and teamwork across all production functions.

• Procurement & Supply Chain:

  • Collaborate with procurement to establish a streamlined material sourcing process, ensuring that all production requirements are met efficiently.

• Financial & Operational Oversight:

  • Manage production budgets, track costs, and ensure profitability.

  • Drive cost-saving initiatives while maintaining high product quality and output standards.

Requirements

• Proven experience (5+ years) as a Production Manager or similar role in a mechanical assembly/manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience with new product implementation (high mix, low volume)

• Familiarity with scaling production in fast-paced startup environments is highly desirable.

• Strong expertise in serial production workflows, quality control, and scaling manufacturing operations.

• Experience in high mix, low volume, or new product implementation know-how

• Excellent project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines.

• Strong skills in scaling production, managing outsourcing partners, and optimizing costs.

• Strong understanding of BOMs, assembly instructions, and procurement processes.

• Data-driven mindset with experience in defining and tracking KPIs.

• Proficiency in production software or ERP systems.

• Fluency in Ukrainian and English (written and spoken) is mandatory.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and cultures.

• Problem-solving mindset with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges.

• Experience leading and structuring a production team (20+ people), ensuring efficiency and accountability. 

Interview steps:

1. Recruiter screen

2. Initial interview with COO

3. Experience interview

4. Case study

5. Security check