Area Manager

At Wilsonart, we don’t just make surfaces—we build careers. When you join our team, you become part of something bigger: a company driven by innovation, grounded in values, and powered by people who care.

You’ll be surrounded by teammates who take pride in their work and look out for one another. You’ll have the chance to learn, grow and make a real impact. And you’ll be part of a company that believes winning means helping you succeed at work and in life.

Here, you’ll win with:

Support that keeps you well

Medical, dental, and life insurance

Company-paid short- and long-term disability

FSAs and dependent care options

Vision and legal benefits

Gym discounts and wellness clinics

Tuition reimbursement—for you and your dependents

Opportunities to grow

Clear paths to promotion and internal mobility

Training, coaching, and mentorship

Development programs to support your goals

Time for what matters

Paid vacation and holidays in your first year

A culture that respects work-life balance

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY:

The Area Manager – Production is responsible for leading all manufacturing operations across the facility, including Casting and Fabrication. This role provides both strategic and day-to-day leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of production reliability.

As a key member of the Operations Leadership Team, this position drives performance in safety, quality, delivery and cost. The Area Manager leads supervisors and frontline teams while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Leadership

Lead all production departments to achieve plant and business unit goals

Establish and drive performance metrics across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and equipment reliability

Oversee daily operations using data, KPIs, and visual management systems

Coordinate priorities and resources across departments to optimize plant-wide performance

Serve as the primary point of contact for production operations

Reliability

Drive equipment uptime, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)

Partner with EHS to ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and safety regulations

Evaluate equipment performance and support capital improvement and replacement initiatives

Conduct feasibility and cost-benefit analyses for new equipment, upgrades, and modifications

Manage budgets, forecasts, and capital expenditures

Continuous Improvement & Strategy

Lead continuous improvement by implementing Wilsonart Operating System, utilizing 5S, Lean, Six Sigma, and 80/20 principles

Drive process improvements across production functions

Partner with technical teams to develop and improve SOPs and operational standards

Support automation and modernization initiatives

Safety, Quality & Compliance

Champion a strong safety culture across production teams

Ensure compliance with OSHA standards, ISO requirements, and internal policies

Lead safety training, audits, and monthly safety meetings

Ensure adherence to quality systems and continuous improvement of product consistency

Financial & Business Performance

Own and manage operational cost drivers

Develop and execute cost reduction initiatives across labor, materials, and spend

Align operational decisions with business strategy and financial objectives

Monitor departmental budgets and ensure efficient resource utilization

People Leadership & Development

Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors, leads and frontline teams

Build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement

Develop team capabilities through training, mentorship, and succession planning

Review and approve performance evaluations and support goal-setting

Foster strong communication, trust, respect and collaboration across teams

Communication & Collaboration

Communicate priorities, performance, and expectations clearly across all levels

Partner cross-functionally to resolve operational challenges

Support employee engagement and positive employee relations across departments

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive results through both production teams

Deep understanding of manufacturing operations

Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies

Strong technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, PLC, and CNC systems

Knowledge of OSHA, ISO, and environmental compliance standards

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Strong communication and interpersonal skills across all levels

Proven ability to lead change and drive operational transformation

Strong business acumen with focus on cost, efficiency, and performance

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

Bachelor Degree Required

Concentration in Engineering, Business or related field