Wood Shop Foreman

Axiom Custom Products•Portland, OR

10d•$38 - $42•Onsite

About The Position

Axiom Custom Products is a designer and custom manufacturer that services the creative, events, retail, and construction industries. Axiom leverages its digital manufacturing technologies and manufacturing expertise to deliver the highest quality products - an outcome unmatched by any in the industry. We offer our clients extensive in-house services and capabilities that allow us to take on projects at any stage of development from concept to installation. This role is for someone who is calm when things get complicated. Someone who understands woodworking and cabinetry deeply, who can speak CNC and metal fabrication well enough to collaborate effectively, and who appreciates what it takes to get a project cleanly into finish. Someone who likes working with the manufacturing management team to bring order to a fast-moving, custom environment. At the end of the day, success isn’t abstract. It looks like assemblies that move on time. Budgets that hold. Minimal rework. A shop that feels organized and safe. A team that knows what they’re doing and feels supported doing it. It’s not about standing behind a desk. It’s about leading from the floor, chipping in as a working manager, solving problems as they happen, and making sure that when something leaves build, it’s done right. Axiom Custom Products operates in a dynamic environment that adapts to the evolving needs of clients, our company, and the industry. We thrive as a small, collaborative team where adaptability and a proactive problem-solving approach are keys to success. This job ad is not exhaustive and outlines the core responsibilities of the position. Additional responsibilities may be added to the evolving job description for this new role or be assigned based on business needs.

Requirements

Deep understanding of woodworking and cabinetry.
Ability to collaborate effectively with CNC and metal fabrication departments.
Strong communication skills.
Calm demeanor under pressure.
Experience leading teams in a custom fabrication environment.
Pride in quality work.
Ability to support the crew.
Skill in bringing order to complexity.
Adaptability and a proactive problem-solving approach.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with a manufacturing management team.

Responsibilities

Walk the shop floor, check in with build teams, scan yesterday's work, and plan the day's priorities.
Translate the bigger-picture plan into actionable tasks for the team, ensuring parts are moving and assemblies are progressing.
Conduct quick team huddles to communicate clear plans for shipping, staging, and finishing.
Manage team capacity and flexibility, assigning tasks based on individual strengths and cross-training opportunities.
Execute the plan by checking drawings against builds, reviewing models, and ensuring the correct revision is used.
Identify and flag discrepancies in dimensions or specifications to prevent rework.
Move between workstations to answer questions, clear roadblocks, and demonstrate best practices.
Track progress in real-time and rebalance resources between projects as needed.
Collaborate with the Head of Manufacturing (HOM) and Assistant Manufacturing Manager (AMM) to adjust sequencing and ensure timely part delivery.
Communicate with other departments (CNC, metal, finish) to ensure clean handoffs, proper labeling, and complete assemblies.
Monitor quality throughout the process, reinforcing standards and aiming for high first-pass quality.
Track labor targets, ensuring accurate job clocking and identifying reasons for time overruns.
Propose solutions to the HOM and AMM for issues related to documentation, training, or prioritization.
Ensure a clean, professional, and safe shop environment, modeling expected standards.
Coach team members and identify opportunities for cross-training to build team resilience.
Check completed work, identify items needing touch-ups, and prepare for crating.
Provide clear updates to the HOM and AMM on project status, blockers, and capacity.
Lead from the floor as a working manager, solving problems as they arise.