Location: Woodstock, VT

Type: Full-time, salaried exempt

Description

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Production Manager to oversee the operations of our pottery studio. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in a production setting, combined with excellent managerial and organizational skills. The Production Manager will be responsible for overseeing the production process, managing a team of artisans, ensuring quality control, and optimizing efficiency in the studio.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee the production planning management
• Health and safety compliance
• Managing the Team
• Quality control & inventory management
• Optimizing efficiency

Oversee the production planning management

• Weekly production planning and forecasting based on inventory levels, planned promotions, upcoming product launches etc.
• Assist in budget planning and cost control measures to optimize studio operations

Health and safety compliance

• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations in the studio
• Implement safety protocols and procedures to minimize the risk of accidents or injuries
• Conduct regular safety inspections and address any hazards or concerns promptly

Manage the team

• Manage the studio supervisor to foster a positive work environment that promotes creativity, collaboration, and high-quality craftsmanship
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to team members according to their skills and abilities
• Coordinate with the lead trainer on the scheduling of the weekly work orders, wheel assignments, and days off scheduling for production staff
• Focus on scaling the production team for company growth, which may include recruiting, onboarding, training, career development, and retention strategies
• Lead weekly production meetings, providing feedback, celebrating team successes, and opportunities for overall studio improvement

Optimizing efficiency

• Oversight of studio and its overall productivity- ensuring the team stays focused and productive
• Work with lead trainer to provide helpful insight to the pottery production team including feedback on quality of final goods and where to find efficiencies
• Work with studio technician to ensure equipment is regularly inspected, maintained, and fully operational and that tools, clay, and glaze are ordered in a timely manner
• Research and present equipment or process updates to increase efficiency and overall functioning of the studio

Quality control & inventory management

• Implement and maintain quality control measures to ensure that finished products meet established standards
• Oversee the inspection of products at various stages of production to identify and address any defects or issues
• Properly track the production workflow from assigned work orders to WIP to finished goods, both physically and digitally in our inventory management system
• Manage scheduling of large or special work orders through the production process (i.e. custom, wholesale, research and development, etc.)
• Communicate demand levels of finished goods to glaze & kiln teams so those pieces are appropriately prioritized throughout the production process

This should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties and responsibilities. There may be some variation and/or development of the above duties and responsibilities without changing the general nature of the job.

Requirements:

• Proven experience in a production environment, with a strong ability to learn and refine the processes unique to pottery production
• Previous supervisory or managerial experience
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively
• Strong leadership abilities and the ability to motivate and inspire team members
• Attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work
• Computer literacy required; this position will be trained in our ERP, NetSuite
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Sheets, and other relevant software applications
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written

This job description outlines the key responsibilities and qualifications required for the role of Production Manager at Farmhouse Pottery. Candidates who possess a combination of a production background, strong managerial skills, and tech comfort will excel in this position.

If you do not have all of these experiences, please still consider applying!