Vehicle Upfit Supervisor

Job Summary
The Vehicle Upfit Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Carolina Handling's internal vehicle upfitting process. This role will lead a team responsible for installing interior van components such as racking, fabricated pieces, tool storage, compressors, inverters, wiring, PPE, flooring, cabinetry, and other required accessories. Mechanical work, exterior wrap work, and engine-related work will continue to be outsourced as needed.

This person will be expected to lead from the floor, jump in when needed, conduct quality inspections on completed upfits, track inventory and workflow status, partner closely with Procurement and Fleet-related stakeholders, and identify opportunities to streamline the process. The ideal candidate is a natural leader who is comfortable working in a hands-on environment, building structure where it does not yet fully exist, and challenging current processes to improve quality, speed, and efficiency.

Responsibilities

·         Serve as a working supervisor by assisting with upfit work when needed, especially during launch, training, staffing gaps, or high-volume periods.

·         Conduct quality assurance reviews on completed vehicles before they are released or transported to their final destination.

·         Manage inventory for upfit components, including racking, fabricated pieces, compressors, inverters, wiring, tools, PPE, and other interior van materials.

·         Monitor inventory levels, minimum/maximum quantities, lead times, reorder needs, emergency stock, and component availability to ensure upfit work can continue without avoidable delays.

·         Track the status of vehicles throughout the upfit process, including vans waiting to be started, vans in process, completed vans, and vehicles ready for post-QA movement.

·         Partner with Procurement, Fleet, Facilities, and other internal teams to coordinate materials, vendor needs, vehicle movement, and completion timelines.

·         Help develop and document standard work for the vehicle upfit process, including workflow, process steps, quality expectations, and inventory requirements.

·         Identify process gaps and recommend improvements to increase throughput, reduce delays, improve quality, and support long-term scalability.

·         Support continuous improvement and RLM standards by maintaining a clean, organized, safe, and efficient work environment.

·         Communicate key updates, priorities, quality discoveries, safety reminders, KPI progress, and process improvement ideas through regular team meetings.

·         Assist with coordination of third-party vendors requiring access to fleet vehicles for services such as wraps, windshield repairs/replacement, body damage, or other outsourced work.

·         Build and maintain reporting tools, trackers, dashboards, or other visibility methods to communicate vehicle status, inventory levels, upcoming work, and operational capacity.

Supervisory Responsibilities

·         Lead, coach, and support Install Technicians in completing vehicle upfits safely, accurately, and efficiently.

Requirements

All potential hires are subject to pre-employment checks which include but are not limited to background checks, drug screenings, and motor vehicle record checks.

·         Proven leadership experience in a hands-on operational, production, manufacturing, warehouse, maintenance, fabrication, technical, or similar environment.

·         Experience supervising, leading, training, or directing the work of others.

·         Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, deadlines, inventory needs, and workflow requirements at one time.

·         Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to keep internal partners informed and aligned.

·         Comfortable working in a hands-on environment and stepping in to assist with work as needed.

·         Ability to identify problems, recommend solutions, and support process improvement.

·         Flexibility and willingness to work within a new and evolving operation where priorities, processes, and expectations may continue to develop.

Preferred Requirements

·         Vehicle upfitting experience.

·         Manufacturing, fabrication, maintenance leadership, technical leadership, warehouse leadership, or production supervision background.

·         Experience managing inventory, reorder points, minimum/maximum stock levels, lead times, FIFO/LIFO practices, or production-related materials.

·         Experience creating process documentation, standard work, dashboards, trackers, or operational reporting tools.

Benefits of Joining the Team

Benefits Built For YOU! At Carolina Handling, taking care of Associates is our utmost priority. We are pleased to offer a comprehensive benefit program to protect your health, your family, and your way of life.

Health Benefits:

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Prescription Drug Plan.

Financial and Tax-Saving Benefits:

Company-paid Disability, Life and AD&D Insurance; 401(k) plan with company match and profit sharing; Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account, and Dependent Care Account.

Additional Benefits:

Critical Illness, Legal Services, Identity Theft Protection, and Pet Insurance.

Company Benefits:

Paid Time Off, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Milestone & Anniversary Gifts, Philanthropy/ Corporate Contributions, Associate Giving Fund, and Discount Programs.

Comprehensive Perks Package Including:

·         Professional Development Opportunities: This includes training programs and tuition reimbursement for further education or certifications.

·         Career Growth and Advancement: With opportunities for internal mobility, mentorship programs, and leadership development initiatives, you can take your career to the next level with us.

·         Company-sponsored social events and team-building activities.

·         Employee recognition program

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job unless it causes undue hardship.

This position is classified as heavy work, involving the operation of machinery, power tools, and heavy equipment. Job tasks may require various physical activities such as walking, sitting, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling, along with moving about the warehouse to various work areas. Physical demands include the ability to constantly lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds, frequently up to 50 pounds, and occasionally to 100 pounds. Manual dexterity is crucial for operating machinery, tools, computers, and handling materials. Clear articulation and voice control are essential for effective communication with both internal and external customers via telephone. Specific vision abilities essential for this role include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Additionally, visual acuity is necessary to read documents, schematics, and equipment displays.

This role operates within a shop/warehouse setting with frequent exposure to oil, grease, and dirt, as well as extreme seasonal temperatures, and vibration. Occasionally, the role may entail working in elevated conditions, encountering harmful or corrosive chemicals, and facing the risk of electric shock. There is potential exposure to hazards related to equipment movement and harmful chemicals/solvents if proper safety procedures are not followed. Noise levels typically range from moderate to high.

Travel Requirements: Less than 10% travel

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties as necessary to meet business needs. This job description does not create a contract of employment between the company and the employee.

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women, communities of color and historically underrepresented talent are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Carolina Handling we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!