Director of Manufacturing

DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING

National Custom Hollow Metal

Little Rock, Arkansas

$140K–$160K bonus eligibility (total potential comp to $192K) | Full-Time | Reports to Co-Presidents

National Custom Hollow Metal builds custom commercial and quick-ship hollow metal doors and frames to NAAMM-HMMA, UL, and Intertek standards. Family-owned since 2007, we have grown from $1.7M to $8M and are building the facility capacity to go further.

We are looking for the person who runs our plant — on the floor, every day. This is not a strategy job with a plant attached. It is a manufacturing leadership job with real authority over how doors get built, scheduled, and shipped, and a clear path to Vice President of Operations as the business grows into its new capacity.

What you'll do

• Own daily production performance: on-time shipment, labor hours per opening, scrap and rework, and safety
• Run two production models under one roof — protect the quick-ship fast lane from being blocked by engineer-to-order custom work
• Lead and develop 4–6 front-line supervisors across laser, brake, weld, grind, and finish; run the daily production meeting
• Maintain UL, Intertek, and HMMA compliance and audit readiness
• Convert tribal knowledge into written standard work, routings, and training — the single most important thing you will do in year one
• Partner with engineering and detailing to enforce release-to-floor discipline so jobs hit the schedule complete
• Support capacity planning, equipment layout, and workflow for the 22nd Street Phase I and II expansion
• Evaluate and recommend a shop-floor scheduling / ERP solution — you will own the decision, not inherit one

What you bring

• 7 years leading a manufacturing floor, including 3 years managing supervisors/leads
• Metal fabrication background — sheet metal, structural steel, job shop, or door/window/millwork. Hollow metal experience is a plus, not a requirement
• Comfort in a 30–150 person plant where the leader is on the floor daily and knows every operator's name
• Documented improvement in on-time delivery, scrap, or labor efficiency — at any scale, in any size company
• Practical lean: 5S, standard work, visual management, daily metrics. Formal certification is welcome but not required
• Working knowledge of CNC fabrication equipment (lasers, press brakes, welding) sufficient to hold a credible conversation with a skilled operator
• Trade school, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or equivalent progression through the shop floor

What we offer

• Base salary of $140,000–$160,000 per year depending on experience plus annual performance bonus potential of 15%–20%
• Simple IRA with company match
• Health / dental / vision insurance
• PTO
• Vehicle allowance
• Relocation assistance

Why us?

This is an opportunity to run operations for a small but growing manufacturing company in a work environment where employees are treated like family. You will report to the owners, not to a region, a division, or a corporate matrix. Decisions get made in the building, usually the same week. You will have a real budget, new equipment, and a facility expansion underway. And there is a defined career path: run manufacturing well, and this becomes the Vice President of Operations seat as the company grows into its new capacity.

Why Little Rock?

Little Rock offers an appealing combination of career opportunity, affordability, and quality of life. Central Arkansas housing costs a fraction of what this compensation buys in a larger market. The city's low cost of living allows residents to enjoy a higher standard of living while benefiting from short commute times, a vibrant downtown, excellent parks, and easy access to outdoor recreation. Little Rock ranked no. 20 on LinkedIn’s 2026 list of the 25 fastest-growing U.S. metros for jobs and new talent.

With a welcoming community, expanding business environment, and balanced lifestyle, Little Rock is an attractive place to build both a career and a fulfilling life.

Pay: $140,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Manufacturing: 7 years (Required)
• Operations leadership: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $140,000 - $160,000