Shop Manager - IL (Custom Cabinetry and Millwork MFG

Shop Manager - IL
Job ID: JOS2224
Starting base salary: $120,000- $160,000

Summary
The Millwork Shop Manager leads the safe, efficient, and reliable day-to-day operation of the millwork shop. This role converts the approved project backlog and operating plan into labor, material, equipment, and production schedules; develops the shop team; maintains quality standards; and coordinates closely with engineering, procurement, project management, delivery, and field installation.

A safe, organized, and well-supervised shop with clear work priorities and consistent adherence to procedures.
Production commitments met with predictable labor performance, material readiness, quality, and communication.
A trained and accountable workforce with appropriate staffing, cross-training, coaching, and performance management.
Problems involving drawings, materials, equipment, quality, capacity, or schedule identified early and escalated with recommended solutions.
Complete, accurate, and timely shop information that supports project and business-unit decision-making.

Responsibilities

Safety and shop readiness
Lead daily safety expectations, pre-task planning, housekeeping, equipment use, incident reporting, and corrective actions.
Maintain a clean, orderly, secure, and production-ready facility in coordination with company safety and facilities resources.
Ensure employees are trained and qualified for assigned tools, equipment, materials, and work processes.
Stop unsafe work and promptly escalate significant safety, environmental, or compliance concerns.



Production planning and execution
Translate project schedules and priorities into practical weekly and daily production plans.
Assign labor, work centers, equipment, and floor space to meet committed dates and productivity expectations.
Conduct production meetings, track constraints and progress, and adjust the plan as conditions change.
Coordinate fabrication, finishing, staging, packing, delivery, and installation readiness.
Own timely execution of shop work and communicate potential delays before commitments are missed.



People leadership and staffing
Lead, coach, mentor, and evaluate shop supervisors, forepersons, craftspeople, and production staff.
Recommend staffing levels, hiring needs, shift plans, overtime, temporary labor, and training priorities to the General Manager.
Support recruiting and selection and ensure effective onboarding for new shop employees.
Address performance, conduct, attendance, and teamwork issues consistently and in partnership with Human Resources.
Build cross-training, bench strength, and recognition practices that reinforce craftsmanship and accountability.



Quality and continuous improvement
Enforce approved quality standards, inspection points, mockups, documentation, and nonconformance procedures.
Coordinate with project teams to resolve drawing, constructability, tolerance, and specification questions before fabrication.
Investigate defects, rework, damaged material, installation feedback, and warranty issues; implement corrective and preventive actions.
Improve shop layout, standard work, material flow, tooling, visual controls, and production methods.



Materials, equipment, and systems
Confirm that approved drawings, bills of material, hardware, lumber, sheet goods, finishes, and subcontracted components are available when required.
Coordinate purchasing priorities and expediting needs with procurement; escalate shortages and supplier risks promptly.
Maintain preventive-maintenance, calibration, repair, and replacement needs for shop equipment and tools.
Use required production, scheduling, timekeeping, quality, inventory, and project systems accurately and consistently.



Coordination and reporting
Coordinate daily with project management, engineering, procurement, logistics, field supervision, and installation teams.
Provide the General Manager with accurate reports on capacity, staffing, productivity, schedule status, safety, quality, constraints, and recovery actions.
Participate in project reviews and contribute practical shop input to estimates, schedules, budgets, and lessons learned.
Interact professionally with clients, architects, contractors, vendors, and subcontractors when operational coordination is required.



Qualifications and Experience
Progressive supervisory or management experience in architectural millwork, cabinetry, manufacturing, fabrication, or a comparable production environment.
Strong understanding of millwork fabrication methods, materials, machinery, drawings, tolerances, finishing, quality control, and production sequencing.
Demonstrated ability to plan work, lead frontline teams, manage competing priorities, and meet schedule commitments.
Working knowledge of safety practices, labor planning, procurement coordination, equipment maintenance, and basic project cost awareness.
Comfort using production, scheduling, timekeeping, inventory, drawing, and collaboration software.
High school diploma or equivalent required; technical training, apprenticeship completion, or a related degree is preferred.



Leadership Competencies
Visible floor leadership and calm decision-making.
Planning, organization, follow-through, and timely escalation.
Coaching, conflict resolution, and fair performance management.
Craftsmanship, detail orientation, and quality ownership.
Cross-functional communication and practical problem-solving.
Commitment to safety, respect, accountability, and continuous improvement.



Performance Measures
Recordable incidents, near-miss follow-up, housekeeping, training completion, and corrective-action closure.
Schedule attainment, on-time completion, labor productivity, overtime, throughput, and constraint resolution.
First-pass quality, rework, scrap, punch-list items, warranty issues, and installation feedback.
Staffing readiness, attendance, retention, cross-training, performance management, and team development.
Accuracy and timeliness of production updates, material status, capacity forecasts, and operating reports.



Work Environment
Primarily based in an active production shop with regular exposure to machinery, noise, dust, finishes, material handling, and moving equipment.
Requires frequent walking and standing and the ability to inspect work throughout the facility; specific physical requirements should be confirmed for the location.
Must follow all applicable safety requirements and use required personal protective equipment.
Schedule flexibility may be required for shifts, overtime, deliveries, installations, and production recovery needs.

For consideration & more info send your resume (in Word.doc) & contact exclusively:

Brian Jackson, VP



Wood Jobs .com
Global Woodwork & Fixture Industry Recruiters




#WJ123