Factory Manager

FutureStitch exists to prove that world‑class manufacturing can thrive in the United States while creating opportunity, dignity, and pride for people and communities often left behind. We combine advanced knitting technology, disciplined operations, and a people‑first culture to build exceptional products—and exceptional careers. Our Oceanside, CA knitting facility is central to that mission. Following a period of recalibration, we are rebuilding the operation with new systems, a refreshed team, and a clear path to growth. This role will lead that transformation. We also intentionally hire individuals who have faced barriers to traditional employment, including those with justice‑involved backgrounds. The Factory Manager will embrace this mission while building a culture rooted in accountability, structure, and continuous improvement. The Opportunity This is a builder's role—not a maintenance role. The facility currently operates with a lean team and low production volume while new customer opportunities are being developed. The Factory Manager will assess the operation, build scalable systems, strengthen the team, and prepare the factory for profitable growth. Key Responsibilities Factory Assessment & Operational Excellence Conduct a comprehensive assessment of equipment, staffing, workflows, and production capacity within the first 90 days. Develop and execute a prioritized operational improvement roadmap. Create standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for knitting, boarding, finishing, packing, and quality. Eliminate single points of failure across people, equipment, and processes. Production & Operations Lead daily factory performance with a focus on safety, quality, machine uptime, throughput, and efficiency. Build scalable staffing models and shift structures. Establish production reporting through dashboards, KPIs, and regular operational reviews. Drive continuous improvement using standard work, visual management, and data‑driven decision making. Oversee the towel sublimation program, improving scheduling, equipment utilization, quality, and profitability. Own factory operating performance in partnership with Finance and senior leadership. Track cost per unit, labor efficiency, downtime, waste, and margins. Support capacity planning and financial modeling for future business growth. ERP & Systems Partner with IT to implement Xoro ERP/MES. Serve as the factory lead for workflow design, testing, implementation, and adoption. Ensure production reporting provides accurate visibility into operational performance. Evaluate the current organization and build a team capable of supporting future growth. Establish clear expectations, accountability, coaching, and career development. Foster a culture where problems are identified early and solved permanently. Lead with respect, consistency, and structure while supporting FutureStitch's inclusive workforce model. Facilities & Equipment Ensure knitting equipment remains safe, reliable, and production‑ready. Own preventative maintenance programs and equipment uptime. Improve factory layout and workflows to maximize safety and productivity. What We're Looking For We are looking for an operational leader who enjoys building systems—not simply maintaining existing ones. The ideal candidate uses data to improve performance, creates repeatable processes, and develops teams capable of sustained operational excellence. While knitting or textile manufacturing experience is strongly preferred, we recognize this talent is limited on the West Coast. Candidates with strong manufacturing leadership experience in comparable industries are encouraged to apply if they demonstrate the ability to learn quickly and build high‑performing operations. Qualifications Proven manufacturing leadership experience with direct P&L responsibility. Track record of building or transforming manufacturing operations. Strong process orientation with experience creating standardized systems and documentation. Excellent organizational, planning, and project management skills. Experience implementing or supporting ERP/MES systems is highly desirable. Hands‑on leadership style with strong problem‑solving ability. Comfortable operating independently while partnering closely with executive leadership. This role reports to the COO and partners closely with: IT on Xoro ERP/MES implementation Head of Supply Chain on sourcing and materials Head of Product on development and quality Head of Sales on capacity planning and customer onboarding The Factory Manager will also serve as the primary operational contact for new domestic manufacturing customers. Success in the First Six Months By the end of 2026, the successful candidate will have: Completed a full operational assessment with a clear execution roadmap. Established preventative maintenance and documented machine readiness across the facility. Successfully implemented Xoro ERP/MES for core factory operations with production reporting in place. Assessed the existing team, implemented a communication cadence, and developed a staffing plan for growth. Completed a profitability and process review of the towel sublimation program with recommendations for optimization. Created and trained standardized SOPs for all critical manufacturing processes. Implemented meaningful factory P&L reporting, including cost‑per‑unit visibility. Prepared the factory to confidently support new customer tours, sampling, production planning, and commercial growth. Why FutureStitch? FutureStitch is at an inflection point. Our Oceanside facility has the equipment, talent, and organizational support to become a leading domestic knitting operation. What it needs is the right leader to build the systems, team, and operational discipline that will unlock its full potential. If you're energized by building operations from the ground up, leading meaningful change, owning business results, and making a lasting impact on both manufacturing and people's lives, we'd love to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr