Job Summary
The Senior Manufacturing Manager in Heavy Industrial Manufacturing directs all large-scale plant operations and maintenance functions. This leadership role focuses on maximizing heavy equipment utilization, driving high-volume throughput, and enforcing rigorous industrial safety & quality standards. The ideal candidate optimizes complex, capital-intensive manufacturing lines while leading multi-layered teams of supervisors and skilled labor. This position reports to the Plant Manager.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Strategy
- Direct large-scale assembly, machining, fabrication, welding, or heavy component casting operations.
- Works with Plant Manager to develop long-term business plans, operational budgets, capital expenditure (CapEx) proposals, and technical strategies.
- Coordinate production schedules with logistics, procurement, and supply chain teams to hit delivery windows.
- Analyze operational data to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce scrap rates, and lower overall cost per unit.
Safety, Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Enforce zero-harm safety cultures, upholding OSHA, environmental, and specialized heavy industry regulations.
- Implement robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) to guarantee zero-defect heavy engineering outputs.
- Lead root-cause investigations for major machinery failures, safety incidents, or structural quality deviations.
Continuous Improvement & Maintenance
- Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S initiatives tailored to heavy industrial footprints.
- Oversee preventative maintenance plans for massive capital assets, heavy machinery, and PLC control infrastructure.
- Optimize floor layouts to enhance safety, material handling efficiency, and physical ergonomics.
Team Development & Culture
- Manage first-line supervisors & shift leaders.
- Mentor high-potential employees to build a reliable talent pipeline for multi-shift operations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- On-Time In-Full (OTIF) Delivery
- Cost Per Ton / Unit Produced
- Scrap, Rework, and Waste Reduction %
Qualifications & Requirements
REQUIRED Experience
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7+ years of experience in heavy industrial manufacturing (e.g., aerospace, automotive, steel, mining, defense, or heavy equipment).
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5+ years of direct managerial experience overseeing multi-shift operations or entire plant departments.
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3+ years of experience working with equipment that is for forming, punching, press operations with steel or comparable metal
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3+ years of experience working or overseeing MIG welding operations.
Technical & Soft Skills
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Deep knowledge of heavy processes like industrial CNC machining, complex electrical infrastructure, welding, or assembly.
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Expertise in industrial software, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
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Strong change management skills to lead teams through structural and technological changes
Education & Certifications
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Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree strongly preferred
Skills Required
- 7+ years of experience in heavy industrial manufacturing (aerospace, automotive, steel, mining, defense, heavy equipment).
- 5+ years of direct managerial experience overseeing multi-shift operations or plant departments.
- 3+ years experience with forming, punching, press operations using steel or comparable metals.
- 3+ years experience working with or overseeing MIG welding operations.
- Deep knowledge of heavy processes such as industrial CNC machining, complex electrical infrastructure, welding, or assembly.
- Expertise in industrial software, including ERP and MES.
- Experience with preventative maintenance programs and PLC control infrastructure.
- Strong change management skills to lead structural and technological changes.
- Bachelor's degree (Master's strongly preferred).
What We Do
UNARCO Material Handling is a leading manufacturer of pallet racks and engineered storage solutions for distribution centers, warehouses, and retail big-box stores across the United States. Established in 1955, the company provides a wide assortment of racking systems, including structural and roll-formed pallet racks, pick modules, and gravity flow products, supported by expert engineering to help customers optimize their inventory storage and product flow.
