Tooling Manager

Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned business where our will to grow drives us to do it better. Join the team and become part of our family!POSITION PURPOSE/MISSION:Lead and direct multi-site tooling operations across the Shawano and Bonduel, Wisconsin locations. This role is primarily responsible for creating and maintaining tooling, patterns, and core boxes in a green sand foundry environment. The Tooling Manager will guide a team of internal Pattern Makers and assigned production employees to ensure our tooling is properly prepared for new product launches, meets customer requirements, adheres to production schedules, and supports long-term operational needs.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Bachelor’s Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience7+ years of experience in a heavy manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, pattern making, or related manufacturing environment3+ years of supervisory/leadership experience in a manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, or pattern-making environmentExperience managing or leading a pattern shop, tool and die operation, or a similar skilled trades environmentDemonstrated knowledge of green sand foundry operations, including pattern creation, pattern maintenance, core boxes, gating, rigging, molding lines, and tooling requirementsExperience with CAD, CAM, CNC equipment, tooling design software, or computerized maintenance/work order systemsDemonstrated experience in cost reduction through process improvements, Continuous Improvement techniques, tooling reliability improvements, and project managementAbility to read and interpret blueprints, drawings, specifications, work instructions, and customer requirementsKnowledge of precision measurement instruments, machining equipment, power tools, hand tools, and tooling repair methodsAbility to evaluate tooling condition, prioritize repair and maintenance needs, and determine appropriate corrective actionsDemonstrated experience in fostering a culture of teamwork, including cross-functional teams, to coach, motivate, lead, and develop direct reportsProficient in the basic features of Microsoft Office productsPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:Master’s Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience10+ years of experience in a heavy manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, pattern making, or related manufacturing environment5+ years of supervisory/leadership experience in a manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, or pattern-making environmentExperience working in a green sand iron foundry environmentExperience managing pattern shops, tooling departments, machining areas, or skilled trades employeesExperience coordinating outsourced tooling, pattern construction, pattern repair, or vendor-performed tooling workExperience in an organization with ISO/Quality System RequirementsMAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:Lead multi-site tooling operations across the Shawano and Bonduel locationsDirect an organized and systematic approach to the tooling needs of the plant by managing staffing, equipment, tooling priorities, training needs, tooling capacity and capability, pattern readiness, and tooling maintenanceWork directly with internal teams such as New Product Development, Commercial, Operations, Safety, and Quality, as well as external vendors and customers to define tooling requirementsLead tooling operations for the green sand foundry environment via pattern creation, pattern modification, pattern repair, core box readiness, gating, mounting, rigging, outsourced tooling, and tooling maintenance activitiesSupervise Pattern Makers and Production Shift Supervisors by providing operational direction, assigning priorities, monitoring performance, developing employees, and ensuring work is completed according to safety, quality, customer, and production requirementsParticipate in developing and managing the tooling operation budget including materials, outsourced tooling, repair costs, supplies, and tooling-related capital needsEnsure patterns, core boxes, gating, and related tooling comply with quality, customer, production, and dimensional requirementsCoordinate with production, quality, engineering, maintenance, scheduling, safety, and external vendors to resolve tooling-related issues and support production schedulesReview blueprints, drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and work instructions to ensure tooling is created, modified, repaired, and maintained to exact requirementsFollow Environmental, Quality and Safety Management System procedures and requirementsAbility to meet the essential job requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation, as outlined in the job descriptionRESPONSIBILITIES FOR SUPERVISION:Production Shift SupervisorsPattern MakersForklift OperatorsCDL Driver & TechniciansORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:Reports to: Plant ManagerPrimary internal customers: Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Safety, Human Resources, New Product Development, Commercial, Plant LeadershipPrimary external customers: Tooling vendors, pattern suppliers, equipment suppliers, and customers as required by the businessPOSITION CHALLENGES:Responding to changing customer, production, and tooling requirementsBalancing urgent production needs with preventive maintenance, new tooling creation, pattern repair, outsourced tooling coordination, and long-term continuous improvement initiativesCoordinating tooling priorities between locations to support customer demand, new product launches, production schedules, and long-term operational needsWe offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits, along with a 401(k) plan that includes employer matching and profit sharing. Additionally, we offer company-paid life insurance, disability coverage, and paid time off (PTO).