Manager, Tooling

STERIS•Conroe, TX

4d•$97,963 - $126,775

About The Position

At STERIS, we help our Customers create a healthier and safer world by providing innovative healthcare and life science product and service solutions around the globe. Position Summary The Manager, Tooling role will provide essential oversight and management of Toolmaker activities, ensuring high-level technical guidance and direction across mold requirements, design inputs (production molds, quality fixtures, Automation repairs), Supplier management, Capital project management for new tooling, and internal repair and modification decisions. A key strategic responsibility of this position is serving as shop-floor technical authority - coaching guiding and developing Toolmakers to strengthen their technical capabilities. The role serves as the primary technical authority for tooling, molds, fixtures, and related components and will also perform hands‑on tooling work as needed during fabrication, maintenance, or repair activities. Additionally, this position is also responsible for developing accurate time and cost estimates for project planning and execution. Manage Toolmaker(s) and internal resources to reduce the external supplier spend on repairs and modifications. This position carries significant responsibility for providing strategic technical support to Operations, R&D, New Product Development (NPD) on tooling feasibility, manufacturability and design improvements. Strong decision‑making is essential, as equipment uptime and product quality are critical for the business. The Manager, Tooling will oversee the fabrication, servicing, and maintenance of complete molds, mold inserts, mold components, production tooling, and fixtures—working from engineering drawings and 3‑D CAD models and utilizing milling, turning, grinding, wire EDM, sinker EDM, and CNC systems.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED.
Minimum 10 years of experience in tooling, mold-making, or precision machining within a manufacturing environment.
Minimum 10 years of leadership/management experience.
Journeyman Toolmaker certification or equivalent technical training.
Extensive hands-on experience with injection molds, hot runner systems, hydraulic/pneumatic components, and precision machining equipment.
Ability to read and interpret complex technical drawings, tolerances, and CAD data.
Strong mechanical aptitude, analytical skills, and root cause problem-solving capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Associate Degree.
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems.
Experience with leadership, mentoring or coaching toolmakers or technical teams.
Background supporting R&D, NPD, or automation integration.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) .
Experience managing tooling vendors, outside mold builders, and contract machinists.
Strong understanding of modern manufacturing practices, Lean principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong decision-making and analytical skills
Cross-functional collaboration and communication
Project management and time management
Safety mindset and attention to detail

Responsibilities

Develop and adapt tooling procedures, forms, protocols, and documentation to ensure that regulatory requirements and ease of use are maintained.
Strategic collaboration with leadership from Molding, R&D, Automation, and Assembly to ensure projects are delivered accurately and on time
Oversee new tooling for injection molds, production fixtures, and hand tools for assembly and direct Toolmakers work based on the task required.
Plans mold builds, modifications, or repairs by reading blueprints, instructions, and sketches, or studying actual part
Sets-up equipment by studying mold requirements, materials, tolerances, and machine capabilities; examine and assess mold production performance and fix as required
Contributes to product design by providing technical capabilities of equipment; offering solutions to the Team as needed.
Work directly with the Molding Department to ensure repair priorities are in alignment, schedule PM’s, and avoid production conflicts.
Support Molding during FAI and trials.
Maintain highest quality of molds.
Participate in CI events (7-step, Kaizen, Tiger Team)
Number one priority: Work safely/be the example, correct unsafe acts, adhere to and support all safety policies
Support the application and development of internal Tooling training programs, including but not limited to: Preventive Maintenance training EDM training High-speed and manual milling and grinding training