Job Description

Supervisor, Manufacturing
Location: Vonore, Tennessee
Department: Manufacturing Administration
Classification: Salaried Exempt
Reports To: Manager, Manufacturing

About the Job
At JTEKT North America, we believe strong leaders build strong teams—and strong teams drive great results. As a Manufacturing Supervisor in our Vonore, Tennessee facility, you’ll play a critical role in shaping the employee experience while leading daily production operations in a Tier 1 automotive environment.
In this role, you’ll guide team leaders, develop talent, and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. You’ll be responsible for keeping production on track while supporting your team through real-time challenges, driving performance in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. From supporting new program launches to strengthening communication across shifts, your leadership will directly influence both operational success and workplace culture.
If you’re passionate about developing people, leading from the floor, and making a visible impact every day, this role offers an opportunity to grow your leadership and your career.

Purpose
Provide direct leadership and oversight of manufacturing operations within an assigned area, ensuring production goals are achieved in alignment with safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Essential Duties and Accountabilities
• Assist in developing unit budgets and performance targets
• Execute production plans to meet customer order and shipment requirements
• Support new program launches by transitioning process development into stable manufacturing capability
• Supervise and provide daily direction to team leaders for all operations on the assigned shift
• Build and maintain continuity and effective communication between shifts
• Support inventory reduction initiatives and cost improvement strategies
• Maintain positive employee relations and promote employee development
• Manage achievement of quality, quantity, and cost objectives
• Support ongoing safety initiatives and ensure adherence to safety policies and procedures
• Provide leadership in the execution of safety, quality, 5S, warranty reduction, and delivery performance initiatives
• Ensure compliance with all quality, health, safety, and environmental policies and procedures
• Work overtime, including weekends, as required to meet operational needs
• Maintain confidentiality of protected health information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA regulations
• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position is responsible for supervising a department of non-exempt employees in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to establish effective leadership and promote a team-based work environment
• Strong understanding of and commitment to health, safety, and environmental initiatives
• Basic knowledge of applicable quality, health, safety, and environmental management systems
Requirements may be waived by the Department Manager and Human Resources Director if the candidate is otherwise qualified.

Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in supervision, business, or a related field preferred
• 2–4 years of leadership experience
• Experience with lean production, continuous flow, Toyota Production System principles, and automotive manufacturing (machining, fabrication, or assembly) is a plus

Work Environment and Physical Demands
• Sit with intermittent walking throughout the workday
• Manual dexterity required for administrative tasks such as typing, filing, and report review
• Regular communication with employees and management in person and by phone
• Visual acuity required to read reports and computer screens
• Maintain a minimum of 8 hours worked per day, 5 days per week