Shop Manager - IL (Custom Cabinetry and Millwork MFG

WoodJobs•Lake Forest, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Millwork Shop Manager leads the safe, efficient, and reliable day-to-day operation of the millwork shop. This role converts the approved project backlog and operating plan into labor, material, equipment, and production schedules; develops the shop team; maintains quality standards; and coordinates closely with engineering, procurement, project management, delivery, and field installation. The goal is to achieve a safe, organized, and well-supervised shop with clear work priorities and consistent adherence to procedures, meeting production commitments with predictable labor performance, material readiness, quality, and communication. This includes developing a trained and accountable workforce with appropriate staffing, cross-training, coaching, and performance management, and identifying and escalating problems involving drawings, materials, equipment, quality, capacity, or schedule with recommended solutions. The role also ensures complete, accurate, and timely shop information to support project and business-unit decision-making.

Requirements

Progressive supervisory or management experience in architectural millwork, cabinetry, manufacturing, fabrication, or a comparable production environment.
Strong understanding of millwork fabrication methods, materials, machinery, drawings, tolerances, finishing, quality control, and production sequencing.
Demonstrated ability to plan work, lead frontline teams, manage competing priorities, and meet schedule commitments.
Working knowledge of safety practices, labor planning, procurement coordination, equipment maintenance, and basic project cost awareness.
Comfort using production, scheduling, timekeeping, inventory, drawing, and collaboration software.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Visible floor leadership and calm decision-making.
Planning, organization, follow-through, and timely escalation.
Coaching, conflict resolution, and fair performance management.
Craftsmanship, detail orientation, and quality ownership.
Cross-functional communication and practical problem-solving.
Commitment to safety, respect, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

technical training, apprenticeship completion, or a related degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead daily safety expectations, pre-task planning, housekeeping, equipment use, incident reporting, and corrective actions.
Maintain a clean, orderly, secure, and production-ready facility in coordination with company safety and facilities resources.
Ensure employees are trained and qualified for assigned tools, equipment, materials, and work processes.
Stop unsafe work and promptly escalate significant safety, environmental, or compliance concerns.
Translate project schedules and priorities into practical weekly and daily production plans.
Assign labor, work centers, equipment, and floor space to meet committed dates and productivity expectations.
Conduct production meetings, track constraints and progress, and adjust the plan as conditions change.
Coordinate fabrication, finishing, staging, packing, delivery, and installation readiness.
Own timely execution of shop work and communicate potential delays before commitments are missed.
Lead, coach, mentor, and evaluate shop supervisors, forepersons, craftspeople, and production staff.
Recommend staffing levels, hiring needs, shift plans, overtime, temporary labor, and training priorities to the General Manager.
Support recruiting and selection and ensure effective onboarding for new shop employees.
Address performance, conduct, attendance, and teamwork issues consistently and in partnership with Human Resources.
Build cross-training, bench strength, and recognition practices that reinforce craftsmanship and accountability.
Enforce approved quality standards, inspection points, mockups, documentation, and nonconformance procedures.
Coordinate with project teams to resolve drawing, constructability, tolerance, and specification questions before fabrication.
Investigate defects, rework, damaged material, installation feedback, and warranty issues; implement corrective and preventive actions.
Improve shop layout, standard work, material flow, tooling, visual controls, and production methods.
Confirm that approved drawings, bills of material, hardware, lumber, sheet goods, finishes, and subcontracted components are available when required.
Coordinate purchasing priorities and expediting needs with procurement; escalate shortages and supplier risks promptly.
Maintain preventive-maintenance, calibration, repair, and replacement needs for shop equipment and tools.
Use required production, scheduling, timekeeping, quality, inventory, and project systems accurately and consistently.
Coordinate daily with project management, engineering, procurement, logistics, field supervision, and installation teams.
Provide the General Manager with accurate reports on capacity, staffing, productivity, schedule status, safety, quality, constraints, and recovery actions.
Participate in project reviews and contribute practical shop input to estimates, schedules, budgets, and lessons learned.
Interact professionally with clients, architects, contractors, vendors, and subcontractors when operational coordination is required.