About This Role
Managing the production floor and every project moving through it is the core of this leadership role. This manager is accountable for scheduling, people, labor planning, project execution, quality, and customer job-status communication, overseeing 20+ shop employees and a project coordinator team. This is a management position, not a hands-on fabrication role.
Responsibilities
- Build and execute production schedules, sequence jobs, manage due-date commitments, identify bottlenecks, and drive on-time delivery
- Lead project coordinators, assign work, and maintain visibility into every active project, its deadlines, requirements, and risks
- Take full ownership and accountability for the production team, including shop leads, fabricators, welders, machine operators, and project coordinators
- Lead hiring, onboarding, coaching, training, and employee development
- Establish clear performance expectations, conduct performance evaluations, address employee performance and disciplinary matters, and make hiring and termination decisions in partnership with HR and in accordance with company policies
- Build a high-performing, accountable team that consistently meets production, quality, safety, and delivery expectations
- Anticipate staffing needs, allocate resources, monitor estimated versus actual hours, and manage overtime and productivity
- Enforce drawing specifications, ISO 9001 procedures, PPE and Cal/OSHA requirements
- Stop work when quality or safety is at risk
- Reduce scrap and rework
- Ensure accurate, proactive updates about job progress, changes, and delays
- Run daily production huddles
- Track on-time delivery, labor efficiency, scrap/rework, weekly shipped output, labor forecast accuracy, and customer satisfaction
- Support EOS scorecards and Rocks
Requirements
- 8+ years in manufacturing or metal fabrication, including 5+ years managing production teams (ideally 20+ employees)
- Proven accountability for multi-project production schedules, delivery commitments, and measurable operational results
- Experience forecasting labor, staffing to demand, and improving production efficiency
- Ability to read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, and fabrication specifications
- Experience leading shop leads or supervisors, holding employees accountable, and coordinating across departments
- Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and clear communication with employees, leadership, and customers
- 5 years of production management experience
Nice to have:
- Custom job-shop or metal fabrication manufacturing; laser, waterjet, forming, welding, and assembly processes
- JobBOSS² or similar ERP/manufacturing software
- ISO 9001, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and KPI reporting
- Leading project managers or project coordinators alongside production teams; EOS / Traction familiarity
Benefits
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Important Details
- Schedule: Monday through Thursday, additional availability may be required based on operational needs
Application Process
- What is the largest manufacturing team you have directly managed?
- Have you been directly accountable for production schedules and on-time delivery performance?
- Do you have experience forecasting labor requirements and managing multiple manufacturing projects simultaneously?
About the Company
Latest Metalworks is a precision metal fabrication company specializing in laser cutting, waterjet cutting, forming and bending, welding, and custom metal assemblies. They deliver high-quality manufacturing solutions through precision, craftsmanship, operational excellence, and exceptional customer service. They value leaders who take ownership of results, develop their teams, and deliver on commitments.
