Manufacturing Manager

Laborup•Vonore, TN

22h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly driven Manufacturing Manager to act as the "business owner" for a massive, cross-functional production unit. In this highly autonomous role, you will lead a large-scale department of 200+ employees, overseeing both raw material machining and final sub-unit assembly. This is not a behind-the-desk, "email-only" leadership role. We need a leader who is highly visible on the production floor, but strategic enough to manage a large P&Ls, drive labor force allocation, lead continuous improvement planning, and interface directly with our Tier 1 customers. You will have the freedom and autonomy to run your department, set your continuous improvement (Kaizen) vision, and build a world-class manufacturing team. If you thrive in a fast-paced automotive environment and want the true keys to a business unit, this is the role for you.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred (Mechanical Engineering or related field highly desirable).
3+ years as a Manufacturing Manager (or 5+ years as a highly successful Production Supervisor) in a fast-paced, continuous flow Tier 1 automotive environment.
Proven ability to lead large organizations (100+ headcount minimum) and manage significant gross profit/P&L (ideally $100M - $200M+).
Experience overseeing both precision metal removal (CNC machining) and assembly operations.
Familiarity with Hoshin planning, business strategy, and manpower planning for large-scale operations.
Previous experience speaking and reporting directly to OEM automotive customers regarding quality, delivery, and launch performance.

Nice To Haves

High-Level CI Mindset – Strong background in Kaizen and lean manufacturing, with the ability to autonomously cast a continuous improvement vision for your department.

Responsibilities

Business & P&L Ownership – Act as the autonomous business owner for your unit. Manage massive P&L metrics, develop unit budgets, and utilize Hoshin planning to execute yearly strategic directives.
Large-Scale Leadership – Direct a department of 180-270+ employees. Supervise and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and operators across both machining and assembly operations.
Cross-Functional Execution – Lead daily cross-functional meetings with Engineering, Maintenance, QA, and Kaizen teams to drive continuous improvement, resolve floor issues, and challenge the technical limits of your department.
New Product Launches (NPI) – Lead APQP teams for continuous product evolution and launches (occurring every 6 to 24 months). Fully own the manpower planning, trial execution, and the transition of process development to actual manufacturing capability.
Direct Customer Interface – Serve as the front-line face of the department to OEM customers. Lead regular pre-launch check-ins, and interface directly with clients on critical issues related to quality and delivery.
Active Floor Presence – Maintain a highly visible presence on the floor. Lead from the front, interact directly with your teams, and avoid the trap of being removed from daily production realities.
Continuous Improvement – Drive Kaizen, lean production, and inventory reduction strategies to hit quality, quantity, and cost targets.