Production Manager

Cut-to-Length / Decoil Department

Position Summary - Hands-on operational leader for the cut-to-length / decoiling function with ownership for safety, people, scheduling, throughput, and continuous improvement.

Role Overview

Reports To - Vice President of Operations

Department - Cut-to-Length / Decoil

Location - Willbanks Metals Inc.

FLSA Status - Exempt

Leadership Scope - Direct leadership of department staffing, production planning, scheduling, execution, and performance

The Production Manager is responsible for leading the cut-to-length / decoiling department to achieve safe, efficient, and reliable production performance while meeting customer requirements, quality standards, and operating targets.

This role requires a strategic and hands-on leader who can translate business priorities into daily execution, develop a capable team, and communicate with credibility at both the shop-floor level and with senior leadership, including the Vice President of Operations.

Operational Leadership

· Lead day-to-day operations for the cut-to-length / decoiling department with clear ownership for safety, quality, throughput, productivity, and on-time execution.

· Manage production at the ground level while maintaining a forward-looking view of staffing, capacity, material flow, and scheduling needs.

· Monitor department performance using production, downtime, labor, and quality metrics and take timely action to correct gaps.

Staffing, Planning, and Scheduling

· Develop and manage department staffing plans, shift coverage, and labor allocation to align resources with production demand.

· Build schedules that utilize employees according to their skills and strengths while maintaining flexibility for changing priorities.

· Partner with operations leadership to forecast labor requirements, identify staffing risks, and support hiring, onboarding, and cross-training plans.

Team Leadership and Development

· Coach, develop, and hold employees accountable for performance, attendance, safety, and operational standards.

· Create a culture of ownership, urgency, teamwork, and continuous improvement across the department.

· Identify high-potential talent, address performance issues promptly, and strengthen bench depth through training and role development.

Process Improvement and Bottleneck Resolution

· Identify production bottlenecks, workflow constraints, and labor inefficiencies; communicate practical solutions and drive execution through resolution.

· Collaborate with maintenance, quality, and upstream/downstream partners to improve uptime, material flow, and schedule adherence.

· Apply structured problem-solving and root-cause thinking to improve productivity, reduce waste, and stabilize performance.

Communication and Executive Partnership

· Communicate department performance, operational risks, staffing needs, and improvement priorities clearly and professionally to the Vice President of Operations and other leaders.

· Translate high-level business direction into measurable actions for frontline teams and supervisors.

· Provide timely updates, recommendations, and escalation on issues affecting safety, output, service, or labor performance.

Required Qualifications

· Minimum of 5 years of production management, manufacturing supervision, or operations leadership experience in a metals processing, steel service center, cut-to-length, slitting, decoiling, or similar industrial environment.

· Proven experience leading production teams with accountability for labor planning, scheduling, throughput, safety, and quality.

· Strong working knowledge of cut-to-length / decoiling operations, material handling, coil processing, and production flow management.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with frontline employees, peers, and executive leadership.

· Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, production reporting tools, and operational KPI management.

· High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in operations, engineering, business, or a related field preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in a steel service center or high-volume metals manufacturing operation with direct exposure to cut-to-length, decoiling, slitting, or related processing lines.

· Experience implementing lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, or productivity improvement initiatives.

· Background in workforce planning, training, and cross-functional coordination with maintenance, quality, shipping, and warehouse teams.

· Bilingual communication capability is a plus, based on workforce needs.

Leadership Capabilities

· Strategic mindset with the ability to connect department execution to broader business priorities.

· Hands-on leadership style with a strong presence on the floor and a willingness to engage directly in problem solving.

· Sound judgment and composure under pressure, with the ability to make timely, practical decisions.

· Strong communicator who can influence at multiple levels, from hourly employees to senior executives.

· Commitment to safety, accountability, talent development, and operational excellence.

Work Environment / Physical Requirements

· Work is performed in both office and manufacturing floor environments and requires regular presence in the production area.

· Ability to stand, walk, observe operations, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.

· Ability to work around industrial equipment, moving material, and noise while following all safety procedures and PPE requirements.

· Ability to occasionally lift or move items consistent with plant leadership responsibilities.

Success Profile

· Builds a stable, capable team that is scheduled and deployed effectively against production demand.

· Improves labor utilization and throughput while maintaining high standards for safety and quality.

· Identifies bottlenecks early, communicates solutions clearly, and drives disciplined follow-through.

· Earns credibility with the workforce and provides high-level operational partnership to the Vice President of Operations.