Manufacturing Manager

We are seeking a high-octane Manufacturing Manager who lead from the shop floor, not from an enclosed office. You will join a team who are championing our next phase of technological innovation while maintaining an uncompromising standard for safety, product quality, and bottom-line profitability. If you thrive in fast-paced, challenging environments and build deep credibility with both frontline operators and executive board members, this is your next challenge.

This highly visible leadership role works directly with manufacturing plant teams and sales teams to improve safety, quality, productivity, equipment reliability, and profitability while driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.

This position can require up to 75% travel and is ideal for a manufacturing leader who enjoys solving complex operational challenges, implementing process improvements, and helping teams achieve their full potential.

What You'll Do

• Embrace and model the company's Core Values and lead by example in every facility.
• Coach, mentor, and manage a diverse workforce, navigating various personality types to unite the team under a common goal.
• Leverage your strengths to execute our manufacturing strategies focused on maximizing equipment uptime, optimizing yield, quality, reducing scrap, rework, and integrating lean principles. Once having a strong understanding of all our processes this position will use facts and insights to achieve strong throughput and cost performance.
• Provide direct, hands-on technical support and leadership across locations, troubleshoot complex production issues, assist with automation implementation, refine processes on the floor, and coach teams to eliminate bottlenecks and boost daily output.
• Stay actively involved in production planning, consolidations to improve throughput, scheduling, and resource allocation to meet customer demand while controlling labor and material costs.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste elimination, process standardization, equipment reliability, preventive and predictive maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
• Support and look to resolve processes and production needs with new innovative solutions. Build equipment upgrades, and manufacturing technology improvements that increase efficiency and productivity.
• Contribute to financial oversight by supporting our Key Performance Metrics.
• Monitoring expenditures, tracking variances, and identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and industry best practices while promoting a strong safety culture across all locations.
• Analyze key manufacturing metrics including Overall Equipment Effectiveness, downtime, yield, scrap, labor efficiency, quality performance, and cost per unit to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Be able to understand our metrics and provide operational updates, recommendations, and strategic insights to executive leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of company objectives and Core Values.

What We're Looking For

• Visible Leadership: Proven history of spending significant daily time on the manufacturing floor interacting with teams.

• High Conflict Resolution IQ: Demonstrated ability to manage difficult conversations, defuse tension, and motivate resistant personnel.
• Grit & Resilience: Comfort working in hot, loud, heavy industrial environments alongside your team when critical issues arise.
• 2 or 4 year Technical experience required; additional manufacturing, technical, engineering, or operations education preferred.

• Valid driver's license and ability to meet all company, state, and federal driving requirements.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 75% of the time, including overnight travel.
• Minimum of 7 years of manufacturing leadership experience in industrial production, automotive, rubber products manufacturing, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading, coaching, and managing manufacturing teams, supervisors, and plant personnel.
• Strong electrical, mechanical, and pneumatic troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose and resolve manufacturing equipment issues.
• Experience supporting automation initiatives, equipment upgrades, and process improvement projects.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred, with the ability to effectively communicate, train, and support diverse teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reporting, and interpretation of operational performance metrics.
• Proven ability to analyze production, quality, maintenance, and financial data and translate findings into actionable operational improvements.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence change, drive accountability, and support multiple locations simultaneously.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and enforcement of safety standards.
• Strong focus on quality systems, process consistency, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with frontline employees, supervisors, plant managers, and executive leadership.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and perform effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn company-specific manufacturing and reporting systems.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly lift, push, pull, or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds.
• Lift and carry materials, tools, and equipment as needed.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, climb, and perform physical activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to use hands and fingers for repetitive motions and equipment operation.
• Ability to hear and recognize safety alarms and warning signals.
• Close visual acuity required for computer work, equipment monitoring, inspections, and data analysis.

Work Environment

• Travel when necessary but potential exists for up to 75%.
• Primarily indoor manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions.
• Exposure to moving mechanical parts, vibration, airborne particles, fumes, and industrial manufacturing processes.
• Occasional exposure to extreme temperatures, rain, snow, and wind.
• Moderate to high noise levels; appropriate personal protective equipment provided as required.

Benefits

The company offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Discount Program
• Referral Program
• Retirement Benefits