Production Supervisor - 1st Shift

Bradford White•Middleville, MI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Bradford White Corporation is seeking a 1st Shift Production Supervisor at its Middleville, Michigan location. The role leads 30–50 UAW-represented employees in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment. The supervisor is expected to be a visible, hands-on leader who builds trust, supports positive employee relations, and promotes safety, quality, accountability, and respect. The position requires effective communication, sound judgment, composure under pressure, and partnership with union employees and leadership to advance operational performance and workforce engagement.

Requirements

At least 3 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated success leading teams with a focus on safety, quality, and performance through employee engagement, communication, and accountability.
Strong communication, interpersonal, conflict-resolution, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to foster positive employee relations and navigate challenging workplace situations professionally and calmly.
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
Ability to balance safety, quality, productivity, and employee-engagement objectives.
Must be comfortable wearing a respirator in designated work areas.

Nice To Haves

Lean or Six Sigma experience.
Previous leadership experience in a unionized manufacturing environment.
Experience supervising employees in a high-volume manufacturing, assembly, or fabrication environment.
An associate or bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of education and leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of 30–50 hourly employees through coaching, mentoring, recognition, and consistent communication.
Build credibility and positive working relationships with employees by fostering a respectful and accountable work environment.
Partner with union leadership and employees and administer the Collective Bargaining Agreement fairly and consistently.
Address employee concerns proactively and professionally while promoting constructive employee relations and workforce engagement.
Maintain a strong floor presence and lead with visibility, responsiveness, and professionalism.
Promote a culture that prioritizes safety and empowers employees to identify and address potential risks.
Drive quality, productivity, and operational performance through team leadership and problem-solving.
Support implementation of new products, engineering changes, and operational improvements.
Monitor production schedules and work order progress to meet customer, quality, and delivery expectations.
Maintain accurate attendance, staffing, and performance documentation.
Respond calmly and effectively to changing priorities, staffing challenges, and production issues.
Champion continuous improvement to reduce downtime, improve quality, reduce scrap, and achieve labor-efficiency targets through collaborative problem-solving.