Production Manager - Paper Bag Manufacturing

About Us

Gather Packaging, the manufacturing division of Progress Luv2Pak — a 108-year-old pioneer in retail packaging in North America — is a growing paper bag manufacturer in North York, Ontario.

We are investing in our people, equipment, and processes with the goal of becoming a market leader in premium, custom-branded paper packaging for major retail customers.

This is an opportunity to join us at an important stage of our growth and help build the manufacturing standards, skills and systems that will define our operation for years to come.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a  hands-on Converting Manager to take ownership of our converting department, reporting directly to the Plant Manager.

This is a  floor role, not a desk job.

You'll lead the people, processes and day-to-day performance of a two-shift converting operation. We want someone who enjoys being on the manufacturing floor — understanding machines, working with operators, solving problems, and developing people.

A major part of the challenge is turning individual operator know-how into standard, repeatable manufacturing excellence.

How do we run faster?
How do we reduce waste?
How do we shorten changeovers?
How do we improve quality and uptime?
How do we develop operators who consistently hit the standard?

Ultimately, we want to replace “how one person does it” with “how Gather does it.”

Our Core Values

Yes We Can, Yes We Do. Find a way to yes — “I can help,” never “not my job.”

Gets It Done “The Gather Way.”Hold the standard, act with urgency and raise issues early.

Problem Solver. Bring solutions and real options, not just complaints.

Dedicated and committed. All in, efficient and never coasting.

Collaborative. Easy to work with, respectful and brings positive energy.

Steps Up. Takes ownership without waiting to be asked.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day performance of the converting department across a two-shift operation.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads and operators; build the team through hiring, training and accountability.
• Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor understanding how machines and processes actually operate.
• Capture experienced operator know-how (tribal knowledge) and turn it into documented standard work, training and repeatable operating practices.
• Drive measurable improvements in  machine speed, uptime, waste, labour efficiency, quality and changeover time.
• Establish meaningful performance targets for each machine and process and improve production, downtime, quality and waste reporting.
• Work closely with Maintenance to strengthen preventive maintenance and reduce downtime.
• Investigate recurring production and quality problems, determine root causes and drive corrective action.
• Participate in trials involving new papers, handles, adhesives, tooling and bag constructions.
• Provide manufacturing input into major customer quotations and new-product opportunities.
• Help evaluate new converting equipment, automation, tooling and capital investments.
• Champion safety, housekeeping and 5S throughout the department.

What You Bring

• 8–10+ years of manufacturing experience , including significant responsibility for leading production teams in a multi-shift environment.
• Experience supervising and developing approximately 20–50+ multi-skilled employees.
• Strong hands-on understanding of production machinery and manufacturing processes.
• A  trainer's mindset — you measure your success partly by how much your people grow.
• Proven ability to take knowledge from experienced operators and turn it into standards, documentation and training.
• A record of improving manufacturing performance — speed, uptime, waste, quality, changeovers or labour productivity.
• Experience with SOPs, standard work and Lean manufacturing tools such as 5S, visual management, setup reduction/SMED and waste reduction.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication and coaching skills.
• Experience with flexographic printing, paper converting or similar high-speed, equipment-intensive manufacturing.
• Fluent English is required; Mandarin communication skills are an asset.

What We Offer

• $100,000–$120,000/year
• RRSP matching up to 3%
• Health benefits
• Company cell phone and laptop
• Significant responsibility and direct access to plant leadership
• The opportunity to  build a department rather than simply inherit one
• Support from senior leadership and external Lean/continuous-improvement expertise
• The opportunity to play an important role in the growth of a Canadian manufacturing business

How We'll Measure Success

Better-trained people. Faster and more consistent setups. Higher machine speeds. Less downtime. Lower waste. Better quality. Reliable reporting. Stronger standards.