General Manager, Indiana (South Bend) Division

Company Overview

Pioneer Metal Finishing is the leading surface engineering company in North America. For over 75 years, we’ve delivered consistent, quality metal finishing solutions for mission‑critical applications. Our advanced surface modification technologies and scalable execution improve the performance of mission‑critical products and enhance brand value for companies in the healthcare, aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets. We encourage you to learn more about opportunities with Pioneer Metal Finishing and join our team today!

Overview

Lead a business. Build a team. Shape what comes next.

Pioneer Metal Finishing is seeking a hands‑on General Manager to lead a division with full accountability for safety, people, customers, growth, and financial results. This is an opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to set the vision, turn strategy into action, and create an environment where employees perform at their best and customers receive an exceptional experience. As a steward of our values and The Pioneer Way, you will partner across the organization, allocate resources thoughtfully, and drive sustainable growth, profitability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement—all while maintaining full compliance with environmental and safety requirements.

What the General Manager role looks like:

• Strategic Leadership & Planning: Partner with the Business Unit Leader to develop divisional strategy, the Annual Business Plan, budget, and long‑term growth plans; translate strategy into priorities, goals, standards, and action plans; and allocate labor, equipment, and resources to balance daily performance with long‑term success.
• Operational Excellence & Results Delivery: Lead managers, supervisors, and team leaders across operational functions; improve safety, delivery, quality, cost, compliance, and productivity; align schedules with facility capabilities and customer requirements; maintain quality systems, accurate records, equipment, cleanliness, and compliance with corporate, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Customer & Growth Focus: Ensure customer requirements are met and concerns are resolved promptly, visit customers as needed, strengthen strategic partnerships, drive organic growth, and create a responsive operation that adapts to changing customer needs and market conditions.
• People Leadership & Development: Provide visible, values‑based leadership; coach, teach, and mentor employees; strengthen performance, retention, career‑path alignment, and future leadership capability; set expectations, provide timely feedback, and build an engaged, accountable, collaborative culture.
• Continuous Improvement & Best Practices: Champion Lean thinking, continuous improvement, and disciplined problem‑solving; partner with Operations Support to implement, sustain, and share best practices; and lead or contribute to company‑wide improvement projects.
• Financial & Business Performance: Own divisional financial performance, improve profitability, deliver budget commitments, review trends, identify risks and opportunities, take timely action, and complete plans on time and within budget while balancing customer, employee, operational, and financial priorities.
• Perform other related leadership responsibilities as business needs evolve.

What We’re Looking For:

• 7‑10 years of progressive leadership experience in a labor‑intensive production or manufacturing environment, including plant or operations management responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading labor management, quality, Lean, and continuous improvement initiatives in manufacturing.
• Proven experience setting a vision, translating goals into action, managing through change, and holding teams accountable for results.
• Financial acumen with prior profit‑and‑loss accountability and the ability to connect operational decisions to business performance.
• Experience evaluating performance, developing employees, and building future leadership capability.
• A bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Supply Chain or Operations, Engineering, or a related field is strongly desired.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification is strongly desired. Metal finishing experience is a plus, but not required.

Leadership Style & Culture:

• A hands‑on, collaborative leader who is comfortable spending time where the work happens and building trust across all levels of the organization.
• A strong, steady leadership presence with a track record of motivating teams, giving candid feedback, and following through on commitments.
• A high sense of urgency, sound judgment, and flexibility to lead effectively in a continuously changing environment.
• A growth mindset and interest in taking on broader responsibilities as the business and organization evolve.
• A values‑driven approach that reflects The Pioneer Way and balances accountability with employee development, customer service, and teamwork.

What to Expect at Pioneer Metal Finishing: You can expect a highly visible leadership role with meaningful influence over the division’s people, customers, operations, and financial performance. The work takes place in an active manufacturing environment that may include heat, noise, and time on the production floor, along with periods of sitting, standing, walking, and bending. You will be expected to lead from the front, make thoughtful decisions with urgency, collaborate across functions, and build sustainable systems—not temporary fixes. In return, Pioneer offers the opportunity to make a measurable impact, develop people, strengthen customer partnerships, and grow your responsibilities within an organization committed to safety, quality, service, continuous improvement, and The Pioneer Way.

Benefits Summary

We offer the following benefits to All Employees immediately upon hire:

• Next-Day Pay: Don’t wait for payday; access your daily pay the next day!
• Quarterly Incentive Program: Paid based on hours worked and business results
• Paid company holidays
• Shift Differentials for 2ndand 3rdshift
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• On-the-Job Training and Advancement Opportunities
• Employee Recognition and Rewards Program
• Fun Recognition Events and more!

Full-Time Employees (30 + hours per week) may participate in the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (Eligibility begins on the 1stof the month, following your start date)
• Paid Time Off: 80 Hours earned in your first year
• Access to Garner Incentive or a Health Savings Account up to $3,000 annually
• 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 2% of bi-weekly contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Company-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Additional benefits for employee purchase: life insurance, critical illness, voluntary accident, and accidental death & dismemberment
• LiveHealth Online, virtual doctor visits