Upholstery Manager

Gratz Pilates•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Upholstery Manager leads day-to-day operations across sewing and upholstery, with responsibility for department output, quality, and safety. This hands-on leadership role schedules work, develops the team, and ensures covers and upholstered components meet specifications and support the broader production schedule. The manager works on the manufacturing floor daily, alongside the team, troubleshooting issues and setting standards for craftsmanship and consistency. The role oversees production planning across cutting, sewing, and upholstery; quality and craftsmanship; material usage and inventory; team leadership and development; safety and compliance; equipment and facilities; and coordination with other production departments. The Upholstery Manager works closely with Metal, Woodworking, and Assembly leads and reports department KPIs to operations leadership. Gratz Pilates manufactures Pilates equipment for studios and practitioners worldwide. Its Upholstery department produces the sewn covers, pads, and upholstered surfaces used in its equipment.

Requirements

3–5+ years of experience supervising or managing a sewing, upholstery, or soft goods production environment.
Strong hands-on knowledge of industrial sewing, cutting, and upholstery techniques.
Ability to read and work from patterns, cut lists, and specifications.
Demonstrated success leading and developing a production team, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
Working knowledge of OSHA safety standards relevant to sewing and upholstery operations.
Experience with production scheduling and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with other department leads.
Basic proficiency with production tracking tools such as Excel or similar for scheduling and reporting.
Ability to work on a manufacturing floor, including standing for extended periods, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working around industrial sewing and cutting equipment.
Comfort wearing required PPE for the full shift.

Nice To Haves

Experience in furniture, automotive, marine, or similar soft goods/upholstery manufacturing.
Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement practices.
Experience with material yield optimization and cutting layout software.

Responsibilities

Plan and sequence daily and weekly work across cutting, sewing, and upholstery stations to meet production targets and downstream assembly needs.
Coordinate with production scheduling to prioritize orders, manage capacity, and flag constraints before they cause delays.
Monitor throughput and adjust staffing or workflow to meet output goals.
Set and enforce quality standards for cutting accuracy, stitching, seam strength, padding, and finished upholstery.
Conduct in-process and final inspections, address defects at their source, and reduce rework and scrap.
Maintain consistent fit, tension, and finish across operators and shifts.
Oversee usage and yield of fabric, vinyl, foam, and other upholstery materials to control waste and cost.
Coordinate with purchasing on material quality issues, lead times, and stock levels.
Manage cutting layouts and pattern efficiency to maximize material utilization.
Directly supervise upholstery department staff, including sewers, cutters, and upholsterers.
Hire, train, and develop team members, including cross-training to build a flexible workforce.
Conduct performance reviews, coach employees on technique and productivity, and address performance issues promptly and fairly.
Build a pipeline of promotable talent within the department.
Own department safety performance, including machine guarding, ergonomics, and safe handling of pneumatic staplers and hand tools.
Lead safety training and toolbox talks specific to sewing and upholstery hazards.
Investigate incidents and near-misses and implement corrective actions.
Ensure compliance with OSHA and other applicable regulations.
Oversee maintenance and proper operation of industrial sewing machines, cutting tables, staplers, and related tooling.
Coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance to minimize downtime.
Identify and recommend capital equipment needs.
Coordinate with Metal, Woodworking, and Assembly leads so covers and upholstered components arrive on time and to specification.
Report department KPIs, including output, quality, safety, and cost, to operations leadership.