Job Description

Production Manager – Metal Finishing / Plating

Location: Akron, OH

Schedule: Full-Time | Onsite | Monday–Friday

Compensation: $90,000–$115,000, depending on experience

Urgently Hiring

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a growing, privately held metal finishing and plating company seeking a hands-on Production Manager to take ownership of its day-to-day operation.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys the pace and versatility of a small-company environment. You won't be managing from behind a desk or handing problems off to another department. You'll lead people, manage production, troubleshoot issues, work alongside office and production staff, and partner directly with the owner to keep the operation moving forward.

You'll oversee a team of approximately nine employees across production and office/support functions, giving you the opportunity to make a visible impact on the people, processes, quality, and overall performance of the business.

Most importantly, this person will have a seat at the table. You'll work directly with ownership, have the autonomy to make decisions, and play an important role in shaping the operation as the company continues to grow.

What You'll Do

• Lead and manage a team of approximately nine employees across production and office/support functions.
• Oversee daily production within a job-shop metal finishing/plating environment.
• Manage workflow and production priorities across multiple plating lines.
• Oversee processes involving metals and finishes such as copper, nickel, zinc, and chrome.
• Drive production scheduling, throughput, quality, documentation, and on-time delivery.
• Hold employees accountable to established procedures, quality requirements, safety standards, and documentation.
• Troubleshoot production, plating, workflow, equipment, and process-related issues.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance, cleaning, and general operational needs.
• Partner closely with office/quality personnel to ensure customer specifications and production requirements are met.
• Utilize Excel and production tracking tools to manage priorities, schedules, and performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce rework, and strengthen overall operations.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and productive shop environment.
• Work directly with ownership on operational priorities, challenges, staffing, and continuous improvement.
• Wear multiple hats and step in wherever needed to keep a small operation running effectively.

What We're Looking For

• Metals, plating, electroplating, or metal-finishing experience is required.
• Previous leadership experience managing production employees in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience working within a small or closely held manufacturing company.
• A hands-on leader who is comfortable being present on the production floor and close to the day-to-day operation.
• Ability to manage a diverse group of personalities, experience levels, and job functions.
• A "chameleon" leadership style — someone who can communicate just as effectively with a seasoned production employee as they can with office staff, customers, and ownership.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, workflow, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable troubleshooting problems and making decisions without waiting for layers of approval.
• Strong computer skills, including Excel and general Microsoft Office applications.
• Highly organized, accountable, approachable, and willing to roll up their sleeves.
• Experience with copper, nickel, zinc, chrome, passivation, electropolishing, or similar processes is highly desirable.
• Exposure to ISO, AS9100, Nadcap, aerospace, automotive, military, medical, or other specification-driven manufacturing environments is a plus.

The Right Personality

This role is as much about leadership style and mentality as technical experience.

We're looking for someone who thrives in a smaller organization where everyone contributes beyond their job title. You need to be comfortable switching gears throughout the day — managing production one minute, coaching an employee the next, troubleshooting a process issue, reviewing a spreadsheet, and then sitting down with the owner to discuss the business.

The right person is:

• Hands-on and approachable
• Firm when it comes to accountability
• Adaptable with different personalities
• Comfortable making decisions
• Resourceful and solutions-oriented
• Technically curious
• Willing to wear multiple hats
• Motivated by having ownership and influence rather than layers of corporate structure

Why Join?

• Direct access to ownership and a true seat at the table
• High level of autonomy and ownership over the operation
• Opportunity to lead and develop a close-knit team
• Ability to make changes and see the impact of your decisions
• Growing organization with future leadership opportunities
• Monday–Friday schedule
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate

If you're coming from a smaller plating, metal-finishing, machining, chemical-processing, or related manufacturing company and want an opportunity where you can lead people, own an operation, and have a direct voice in the business, we'd like to hear from you!