What We're Looking ForWe're looking for an
Area Manager to lead day-to-day execution for a defined production area in our factory. This is a floor leadership role for someone who thrives in high-velocity operations and can build the management system that keeps teams safe, productive, and improving every week.
This is not a role for someone who wants to supervise a steady-state line. We are building the infrastructure to scale and we need leaders who can bring rigor, systems thinking, and a technology-forward mindset to a genuinely novel manufacturing challenge.
ResponsibilitiesDaily Management & Execution- Own daily/weekly plan attainment for your area: throughput, minutes/SF, schedule attainment, and rework hours
- Run start-of-shift and end-of-shift routines; ensure the team always knows the plan, priorities, and constraints
- Coordinate labor, materials, and readiness so work is staged and flow is protected
- Surface blockers early with clear options and tradeoffs (bring "2-3 ways to solve it," not just problems)
Safety, Quality & Standards- Own safety performance for your area: hazard escalation, audits, incident response, and corrective actions
- Ensure adherence to SOPs / standard work and quality gates; stop and correct out-of-standard work
- Partner with Ops Engineering / training owners to ensure training and certification are completed for tasks performed in the area
People Leadership & Crew Development- Lead, coach, and develop team leads and operators; set expectations and drive accountability
- Address issues directly and respectfully; hold the line on standards
- Implement a lightweight rotation / cross-training plan that grows versatility and reduces burnout
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement- Partner with Ops Engineering / CI to identify, prioritize, and execute improvements that move throughput/efficiency metrics
- Support kaizen events, time studies, and standardization; ensure impact is measured and captured (not just ideas generated)
- Convert recurring issues into standard work, training content, and improved material flow so the system becomes self-improving
Metrics, Visibility & Systems ("Scoreboard")- Own the area "scoreboard": targets vs actuals, downtime/constraints, quality escapes, and improvement actions
- Participate in weekly leads/metrics reviews; report what happened, why, what changed, and what support you need
- Partner with Factory Orchestration / Sidekick stakeholders to improve dashboards and information displays when current metrics don't drive behavior
QualificationsRequired- 3-7+ years leading teams in a fast-paced operations environment, with a strong preference for manufacturing / production / fulfillment / industrial operations
- Proven track record hitting output targets while maintaining safety and quality
- Strong people leadership: coaching, conflict management, accountability, and performance conversations
- Strong data orientation: you run a scoreboard, identify gaps, and drive actions to close them
- Ability to operate in ambiguity and build structure where it doesn't exist yet
- Clear communicator who can escalate issues with crisp context and options
Nice to Have- Experience with Lean / TWI / continuous improvement systems (daily management, standard work, 5S, kaizen)
- Experience building training and certification programs ("train the trainer," sign-offs, skills matrices)
- Familiarity with tech-enabled operations (digital work instructions, dashboards, workflow tools)
- Construction / building experience (prefab/modular, wood framing, MEP, finishes, installation sequencing); helpful but not required
Ideal candidate profiles (examples)- Experienced Area Manager / Supervisor from a high-velocity factory or fulfillment environment who can quickly learn the "product" (homes/modules)
- Lead / foreperson from prefab/modular or construction who has already adopted a metrics-driven daily management system (targets, standard work, CI cadence)
30 / 90 / 1 year outcomesFirst 30 days- Build trust and operating rhythm with Production, Ops Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and adjacent area leaders
- Establish baseline area performance (throughput, minutes/SF, quality escapes/rework, safety, schedule reliability) and identify the top 3 constraints
- Stand up or tighten daily management: pre-shift planning, visual management, end-of-shift learning loop, and clear escalation paths
- Define the area scoreboard (targets vs actuals) and ensure it is visible and used consistently
First 90 days- Deliver measurable performance lift against the primary constraint (cycle time, labor efficiency, quality escapes, or schedule attainment) with a repeatable CI mechanism behind it
- Implement a stable cross-training / rotation cadence that reduces single points of failure and burnout
- Improve standard work adherence and quality gating so repeat issues begin to decline
- Establish a reliable weekly cadence for reporting metrics, actions, and improvement progress
First year- Your area consistently hits predictable throughput and efficiency with strong safety and quality performance
- The area runs a durable operating system (tiered daily management + CI cadence) that continues to improve without heroics
- Training/certification and standard work are mature enough to support hiring ramps and scaling to additional facilities
About the RoleThe position is full-time, exempt, and based on-site in the greater Boston area.
