Job Details

About the Role: The Production Manager is responsible for the direct supervision and leadership of the shop floor This is a hands-on role focused on managing the day-to-day activities of the production floor – overseeing welders, fabricators, assembly and painting personnel.

Responsibilities:

Operations & Manufacturing

• Oversee all daily plant operations of heavy manufacturing plant; welding, fabrication, assembly paint, maintenance, etc..
• Manage production schedules to meet customer delivery commitments while optimizing labor and equipment utilization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve cycle time, and increase throughput.

Safety & Compliance

• Serve as the primary driver of safety culture transformation on the shop floor – model safe behaviors daily and hold all personnel accountable to a zero-compromise safety standard.
• Assess the current state of the safety program and develop a structured improvement plan with measurable goals, timelines, and ownership to address gaps in culture, behavior, and compliance.
• Build trust with the workforce by engaging employees directly in safety conversations, soliciting input on hazards and near-misses, and ensuring concerns are acted upon visibly and promptly.
• Implement and sustain proactive safety practices including daily pre-shift safety briefings, job hazard analyses (JHAs), behavior-based safety observations, and structured toolbox talks.
• Establish clear leading indicator metrics (near-miss reporting, hazard identification, safety observation rates) alongside lagging metrics (TRIR, DART) to track program progress and drive accountability.
• Lead thorough root cause analyses for all incidents and near-misses; develop corrective action plans and track to closure, sharing learnings across the shop floor.
• Partner with the Safety department to develop and deliver role-specific safety training programs that build competency and reinforce cultural expectations.

People & Team Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, and develop a team of welders, fabricators, machinists, and support staff.
• Conduct regular performance reviews; provide coaching and disciplinary action as needed.
• Foster a collaborative and respectful work environment that promotes accountability and employee engagement.
• Coordinate with HR on workforce planning, compensation benchmarking, and labor relations.

Financial & Business Management

• Manage the plant operating budget; monitor costs, control variances, and identify savings opportunities.
• Prepare and present regular KPI reports (on-time delivery, scrap rate, safety metrics) to senior leadership.
• Evaluate capital equipment needs and develop business cases for plant investment.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing/fabrication experience, with at least 5 years in a plant or operations management role.
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry or Construction certification (required within 90 days of hire).
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or demonstrated oversight experience with certified welding programs.
• Proven ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld procedures (WPS/PQR), and material test reports (MTRs).
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with experience managing teams of 25+ employees.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and standard MS Office applications.

Required Skills:

• Experience in heavy equipment manufacturing.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Lean Manufacturing certification.
• Prior experience managing a multi-shift fabrication operation.

Pay range and compensation package

Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including:

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Professional development and certification support

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status.