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Job Description
Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned business where our will to grow drives us to do it better. Join the team and become part of our family!
POSITION PURPOSE/MISSION
Lead and direct multi-site tooling operations across the Shawano and Bonduel, Wisconsin locations. This role is primarily responsible for creating and maintaining tooling, patterns, and core boxes in a green sand foundry environment. The Tooling Manager will guide a team of internal Pattern Makers and assigned production employees to ensure our tooling is properly prepared for new product launches, meets customer requirements, adheres to production schedules, and supports long-term operational needs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience. 7+ years of experience in a heavy manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, pattern making, or related manufacturing environment. 3+ years of supervisory/leadership experience in a manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, or pattern-making environment. Experience managing or leading a pattern shop, tool and die operation, or a similar skilled trades environment. Demonstrated knowledge of green sand foundry operations, including pattern creation, pattern maintenance, core boxes, gating, rigging, molding lines, and tooling requirements. Experience with
CAD, CAM, CNC
equipment, tooling design software, or computerized maintenance/work order systems. Demonstrated experience in cost reduction through process improvements, Continuous Improvement techniques, tooling reliability improvements, and project management. Ability to read and interpret blueprints, drawings, specifications, work instructions, and customer requirements. Knowledge of precision measurement instruments, machining equipment, power tools, hand tools, and tooling repair methods. Ability to evaluate tooling condition, prioritize repair and maintenance needs, and determine appropriate corrective actions. Demonstrated experience in fostering a culture of teamwork, including cross-functional teams, to coach, motivate, lead, and develop direct reports. Proficient in the basic features of Microsoft Office products.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Master's Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience. 10+ years of experience in a heavy manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, pattern making, or related manufacturing environment. 5+ years of supervisory/leadership experience in a manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, or pattern-making environment. Experience working in a green sand iron foundry environment. Experience managing pattern shops, tooling departments, machining areas, or skilled trades employees. Experience coordinating outsourced tooling, pattern construction, pattern repair, or vendor-performed tooling work. Experience in an organization with ISO/Quality System Requirements.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES
Lead multi-site tooling operations across the Shawano and Bonduel locations. Direct an organized and systematic approach to the tooling needs of the plant by managing staffing, equipment, tooling priorities, training needs, tooling capacity and capability, pattern readiness, and tooling maintenance. Work directly with internal teams such as New Product Development, Commercial, Operations, Safety, and Quality, as well as external vendors and customers to define tooling requirements. Lead tooling operations for the green sand foundry environment via pattern creation, pattern modification, pattern repair, core box readiness, gating, mounting, rigging, outsourced tooling, and tooling maintenance activities. Supervise Pattern Makers and Production Shift Supervisors by providing operational direction, assigning priorities, monitoring performance, developing employees, and ensuring work is completed according to safety, quality, customer, and production requirements. Participate in developing and managing the tooling operation budget including materials, outsourced tooling, repair costs, supplies, and tooling-related capital needs. Ensure patterns, core boxes, gating, and related tooling comply with quality, customer, production, and dimensional requirements. Coordinate with production, quality, engineering, maintenance, scheduling, safety, and external vendors to resolve tooling-related issues and support production schedules. Review blueprints, drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and work instructions to ensure tooling is created, modified, repaired, and maintained to exact requirements. Follow Environmental, Quality and Safety Management System procedures and requirements. Ability to meet the essential job requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation, as outlined in the job description.
Reports to: Plant Manager Primary internal customers: Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Human Resources, New Product Development, Commercial, Plant Leadership.
Primary external customers:
Tooling vendors, pattern suppliers, equipment suppliers, and customers as required by the business.
POSITION CHALLENGES
Responding to changing customer, production, and tooling requirements. Balancing urgent production needs with preventive maintenance, new tooling creation, pattern repair, outsourced tooling coordination, and long-term continuous improvement initiatives. Coordinating tooling priorities between locations to support customer demand, new product launches, production schedules, and long-term operational needs. We offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits, along with a 401(k) plan that includes employer matching and profit sharing. Additionally, we offer company-paid life insurance, disability coverage, and paid time off (PTO).
OUR STORY
Charter Manufacturing is a family-owned group of diversified metals manufacturing businesses founded in 1936 and headquartered in Mequon, Wis. Our will to grow drives our success. It is fueled by a team of respected and dedicated employees committed to continuous improvement and an entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within the Charter family.
WE ARE INVESTED IN YOU
When you work at Charter Manufacturing you're part of a four-generation family business. That means, you're not just an employee, you're one of our family members. We believe in mutual trust. Employees are respected and empowered to explore new and better ways to impact the success of the company. Employees, at every level, are valued for their motivation to deliver the best products and service. We are in this together. Charter has a thriving team environment. Part of being a family means we collaborate, learn, thrive and benefit - together. We are committed to your future. The forward thinking and enthusiasm from our team drives us to create resources and opportunities for employees to learn, develop and create their own future. We celebrate you. We are successful because of our employees — and their great work doesn't go unnoticed. We recognize and reward our employees for their contributions. Visit our website to learn more about our family of companies. View our 2022 Sustainability Report. To review our data use practices, visit our Company Privacy Policy.
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