Business Leader - Locomotive, Platforms

Wabtec•Fort Worth, TX

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Platform Business Leader provides overall leadership and oversight for an entire production team at Wabtec’s Fort Worth Locomotive Manufacturing Facility. As a member of the facility leadership team, this role is accountable for functional, business, and broad company objectives, including key performance indicators for safety, quality, and delivery across a large and diverse section of the locomotive facility. The leader integrates and develops manufacturing processes to meet business needs, manages complex and personnel issues, participates in short- and long-term planning, and contributes to business strategy. The role leads exempt and hourly employees, guiding problem resolution, resource utilization, career development, training, performance management, and operational communication. It develops production and improvement plans, supports production flow and schedule commitments, analyzes labor and capacity needs within budget, and advances safety, productivity, lean, and cycle-reduction initiatives. The position also works with cross-functional stakeholders and production systems to ensure operational alignment, regulatory compliance, and customer success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
3–5 years of leadership experience in manufacturing.
Previous experience with heavy equipment manufacturing, electrical assembly, welding, and/or fabrication.
Demonstrated leadership skills in a cross-functional environment.
Ability to effectively lead salaried and hourly teams.
Ability to collect and analyze data to support business decision-making.
Ability to address complex issues while continuing to deliver for the customer.
Self-directed, detail-oriented, and highly organized.
Ability to engage functional stakeholders, including HR, Finance, and EHS, as an inclusive leader in a cross-functional environment.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
Ability to be physically present at the plant during normal production times, including additional times or days as production requires.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Lean methodology in a manufacturing environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

Ensure the team follows high environmental health and safety standards and reduce environmental and safety incidents, first-aid cases, and recordable injuries.
Develop and implement plans to meet schedule commitments and maintain production flow.
Analyze production labor requirements and make appropriate capacity decisions within the department budget.
Drive initiatives related to EHS, shop productivity, lean, and cycle-time reduction.
Promote the site’s teaming culture and employee contribution and accountability.
Lead exempt and hourly employees in problem resolution, resource utilization, and career counseling.
Create and administer training plans to ensure team members are equipped and trained to perform their jobs.
Provide daily communication and operational guidance to management and other employees.
Develop and implement process and continuous-improvement initiatives with cross-functional teams.
Design performance metrics that support traceability and tactical and strategic business goals.
Conduct performance reviews and provide coaching and feedback to hourly and salaried employees.
Ensure operational alignment with the production plan.
Perform routine analyses using established methods and technologies and contribute to technological developments in supervised teams.
Lead communications and presentations with the direct team and leadership.
Work with cross-functional teams to maintain a one-team focus and support customer success within the shop.
Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, OSHA work practices, and industry- and site-specific work rules.
Use MRP, quality, and MES software systems to manage material and other systemic requirements.