How to hire a manufacturing program manager

How to hire a manufacturing program manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step manufacturing program manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a manufacturing program manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new manufacturing program manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your manufacturing program manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a manufacturing program manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A manufacturing program manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, manufacturing program managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of manufacturing program manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Manufacturing Program Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Manufacturing Program Manager	Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.	$25-50
   Production Administrator	Production administrators support all artistic and production functions with expert administrative support to the entire production team. Part of their responsibilities includes maintaining the annual production expenses and production calendar, researching potential venues and maintaining a venue database, and preparing expense reports for artists and production staff... Show more	$12-28
   Plant Superintendent	Plant superintendents must have skills in operations, productions, and management. They also need a 4-year degree in business or industrial management... Show more	$32-64

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sigma
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Process Improvement
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Logistics
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Production Control
   • Aerospace
   • PMO
   • Direct Reports
   • Quality Standards
   • MRP
   • R

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead team responsible for logistics, materials, incircuit, assembly, strain measurement, x-ray, and failure analysis.
   • Implement lead manufacturing principles to achieve continuous improvement processes; hire qualified machinists; ensure division-wide OSHA compliance.
   • Conduct sufficient in-house design reviews per ISO work instructions.
   • Manage project responsibilities from concept and prototyping of a product to FDA approval process through implementation into commercialization.
   • Implement overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) metrics to focus attention on key process equipment availability, performance and quality factors.

   More manufacturing program manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your manufacturing program manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A manufacturing program manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, manufacturing program managers' average salary in colorado is 44% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level manufacturing program managers 49% less than senior-level manufacturing program managers.
   • Certifications. A manufacturing program manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a manufacturing program manager's salary.

   Average manufacturing program manager salary

   $76,289yearly

   $36.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level manufacturing program manager salary

   $54,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average manufacturing program manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$113,250	$54
   2	Virginia	$90,550	$44
   3	Pennsylvania	$90,244	$43
   4	Ohio	$87,458	$42
   5	Nevada	$87,406	$42
   6	Wisconsin	$85,386	$41
   7	Oregon	$82,242	$40
   8	Hawaii	$81,514	$39
   9	Maryland	$74,685	$36
   10	Massachusetts	$74,575	$36
   11	Arizona	$73,961	$36
   12	Washington	$73,440	$35
   13	Georgia	$73,036	$35
   14	South Carolina	$72,920	$35
   15	Indiana	$72,239	$35
   16	New Hampshire	$71,845	$35
   17	North Dakota	$71,415	$34
   18	Michigan	$69,842	$34
   19	New Mexico	$68,765	$33
   20	West Virginia	$65,792	$32

   Average manufacturing program manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$131,749	$63.34	164
   2	Genentech	$108,504	$52.17	4
   3	Microsoft	$106,865	$51.38	96
   4	Lucid Motors	$92,112	$44.28	46
   5	Alere	$90,234	$43.38
   6	PROLIM	$85,159	$40.94
   7	RBC Medical Innovations	$84,376	$40.57
   8	Corning Incorporated	$82,817	$39.82	33
   9	Quality Metalcraft	$81,420	$39.14
   10	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$80,888	$38.89
   11	Omnicell	$80,179	$38.55
   12	Arrow Electronics	$80,125	$38.52
   13	Formlabs	$77,872	$37.44	17
   14	Recruit	$77,682	$37.35
   15	Abbott	$76,739	$36.89	47
   16	Niagara Bottling	$75,643	$36.37	32
   17	Medtronic	$75,359	$36.23	53
   18	Austal	$74,575	$35.85	2
   19	Shield AI	$74,565	$35.85	11
   20	Americhem	$74,489	$35.81	1

4. Writing a manufacturing program manager job description

   A manufacturing program manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a manufacturing program manager job description:

   Manufacturing program manager job description example

   Scope & Impact:
   
   As a part of O-I's Manufacturing Graduate Development Program (GDP), you will have the opportunity to learn from the best in the glass business. Our 18 month rotational program will prepare you for a successful and long-lasting career within our manufacturing areas. You will be offered challenging and diverse opportunities while being supported through a structured learning and development program as you work with subject matter experts.
   
   During the GDP experience, you will spend your first four to six months getting exposure to various roles and operating procedures within a glass manufacturing facility. Following this period, you'll work with our team to determine your specialty deep dive where you'll receive in-depth training for twelve to sixteen months, to prepare you for your first full-time role within the plant. This assignment will be determined based upon your education/experience, personal interest and the company needs.
   
   This position is developmental in nature while supporting all aspects throughout the plant during the rotational program. The person must function equally well in both an office and plant environment.
   
   During the development program, you'll:
   
   Promote and work to a high degree of safety and environmental consciousness at all times including compliance with both statutory & in-house safety and environmental requirements; conduct hazard identification/risk assessment & workplace inspections and safety audits
   
   Collaborate with members in each function and contribute to various business as usual and project-related tasks
   
   Collect, collate, analyze and report on data related to role-relevant processes
   
   Attend relevant training and assessments as required throughout the graduate program
   
   Exhibit a customer centric approach to all aspects of your work
   
   Identify opportunities for improvements in safety, quality and efficiency and work with relevant stakeholders to design and implement improvements into standard operating procedure at O-I
   
   Bring new engineering insights into O-I's manufacturing practices
   
   Drive communication and collaboration within cross-functional workgroups
   
   Promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department including training and development of subordinates and ensuring adherence to housekeeping and hygiene standards
   
   Keep up to date with new developments in glassmaking technologies
   
   The Graduate Development Program participants should have:
   
   Natural curiosity and willingness to learn
   
   Desire to ultimately lead and develop a team of people
   
   High level of motivation and ability to work independently
   
   Excellent communication and presentation skills; able to interact with all levels of the organization
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find manufacturing program managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your manufacturing program manager job on Zippia to find and recruit manufacturing program manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting manufacturing program managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new manufacturing program manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect manufacturing program manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new manufacturing program manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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