Lamination Manager

Dougherty Manufacturing•Edgewater, FL

20h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Composites/Lamination Manager with strong leadership abilities, advanced knowledge of fiberglass/composite manufacturing, and a proven track record in production management. This role oversees all daily operations of the lamination department—from gelcoat through pull and post‑grind—ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and team development. The Composites/Lamination Manager leads the full lamination process for Solace Boats and other Dougherty Manufacturing projects. Responsibilities include managing gelcoat, lamination, foaming, pulling, grinding, and material flow. This position requires both technical expertise and the ability to guide and develop a high‑performance team.

Requirements

5+ years of supervisory/management experience specifically in fiberglass/composite manufacturing.
Strong technical knowledge of gelcoat, chop guns, hand lay‑up, and composite‑curing dynamics.
Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a fast‑paced production environment.
Strong communications skills with the ability to provide clear direction and feedback.
Ability to troubleshoot chemical, equipment, and process‑related issues.
Comfortable working onsite in a non‑climate‑controlled production environment.
Experience coordinating cross‑functional work with Engineering, QC, Design, and Assembly teams.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred, ideally in Industrial Technology, Composites/Materials Science, Marine Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

Manage daily mold flow through Gelcoat, Lamination, Foaming, Pulling, and Grinding.
Coordinate with upstream teams (mold prep, engineering) and downstream teams (assembly, finishing) to ensure seamless production.
Ensure daily and weekly production schedules are met while adapting to changing priorities.
Serve as the subject‑matter expert for gelcoat, chop gun operation, resin‑to‑glass ratios, catalyst adjustments, cure times, and release systems.
Troubleshoot equipment and material issues quickly and accurately.
Oversee proper PMs on all lamination equipment to maintain uptime and performance.
Partner with Quality Control to uphold lamination standards and eliminate voids, alligatoring, thin spots, cosmetic defects, or structural inconsistencies.
Monitor first‑pass yield, rework, thickness variation, and other key quality metrics.
Participate in root‑cause analysis and drive corrective actions.
Lead, mentor, and develop supervisors, leads, and lamination technicians.
Ensure all employees are properly trained on safety protocols, lamination techniques, and equipment operation.
Promote a positive, collaborative, and high‑accountability team environment.
Enforce strict PPE usage, including respirators, gloves, and eye protection.
Maintain a safety‑first culture with daily communication, audits, and follow‑up.
Ensure compliance with hazardous materials handling and environmental standards.
Monitor and manage inventory levels of resin, gelcoat, glass, catalysts, release agents, solvents, and other consumables.
Ensure accurate usage tracking and minimize waste.
Work directly with Manufacturing Engineering to improve processes, mold flow, cycle times, and department layout.
Recommend and implement improvements to tooling, equipment, and lamination schedules.
Support companywide lean initiatives and standard work development.