General Manager

The Brewer Company LLC

$100K — $120K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of leadership experience in cabinetry or related manufacturing environment.
  • Working knowledge of the product lifecycle from sales to installation.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams and drive accountability in hands-on settings.
  • Strong understanding of job costing and profitability drivers.
  • Experience leading process improvements and change initiatives.
  • Ability to interpret shop drawings and focus on quality standards.
  • Proficient in business tools like Excel and project tracking software.

Responsibilities

  • Lead business operations by aligning sales, design, and production priorities.
  • Ensure safe and productive operational execution across shop and field.
  • Oversee production management including scheduling and workflow efficiency.
  • Establish and enforce quality standards while minimizing rework and issues.
  • Enhance customer experience through effective communication and issue resolution.
  • Manage financial performance, including P&L and job costing discipline.
  • Develop and coach team members while fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead and impact transformative changes in the organization.
  • Engagement in a culture that values craftsmanship and operational excellence.
  • Professional development through coaching and team-building initiatives.
  • Collaborative environment with emphasis on continuous improvement and safety.
  • Potential to be part of a growth strategy influencing market positioning and capacity expansion.
Full Job Description
Position Summary

The General Manager (GM) provides day-to-day leadership and operational oversight for a cabinetry company, ensuring safe, profitable, and high-quality delivery from sales/design through production. This role is accountable for team performance, customer experience, financial results, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is an outstanding leader with a proven ability to drive transformative change-improving systems, developing people, and scaling operational excellence while protecting craftsmanship and company culture.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the business: Set clear priorities and operating rhythms (daily/weekly/monthly) that align sales, design, and production to deliver on commitments.
  • Operational execution: Own on-time delivery, quality, safety, and productivity across the shop and field; remove bottlenecks and ensure smooth handoffs between functions.
  • Production management: Oversee scheduling, capacity planning, shop workflow, and labor allocation; ensure drawings, cut lists, machine programs, and bills of material are accurate and released on time.
  • Quality & craftsmanship: Establish and enforce quality standards, inspection points, and corrective actions; reduce rework, warranty issues, and jobsite punch lists.
  • Customer experience: Ensure strong communication and issue resolution; partner with sales/project management to set expectations, manage change orders, and protect margins.
  • Financial performance: Manage P&L results, job costing discipline, pricing/margin adherence, cash flow awareness, and expense control; deliver regular reporting and forecasts to ownership.
  • People leadership: Hire, coach, and develop supervisors and team members; build accountability, teamwork, and a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
  • Transformative change: Lead process improvement initiatives (e.g., standard work, 5S, lean flow, visual management, KPI dashboards) and implement scalable systems for growth.
  • Systems & data: Improve estimating-to-production data integrity (ERP/MRP, project tracking, inventory control, CAD/CAM, scheduling tools); standardize documentation and version control.
  • Vendor & material management: Strengthen supplier relationships; improve purchasing, lead times, material availability, and inventory accuracy to support reliable production.
  • Safety & compliance: Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable regulations; maintain training, incident investigation, and corrective actions; promote a proactive safety culture.
  • Facility & equipment: Maintain shop equipment readiness (e.g., CNC, edgebanders, dust collection, finishing systems); plan preventative maintenance and capital improvements.
  • Strategic support: Contribute to growth strategy, market positioning, and capacity expansion; provide recommendations on product offerings, lead time policy, and service model.

Required Qualifications

  • 5+ years of leadership experience in cabinetry, millwork, woodworking manufacturing, or closely related custom fabrication environment (with responsibility for operations, production, or general management).
  • Working knowledge of the product lifecycle: estimating/sales, design & engineering (CAD), material procurement, production (cut/edge/assemble/finish), delivery, and installation.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams, set expectations, and drive accountability in a hands-on environment.
  • Strong understanding of job costing, gross margin drivers, and operational levers that impact profitability (labor, material yield, rework, throughput, schedule adherence).
  • Experience implementing process improvements and/or leading change initiatives (systems, workflow, quality, safety, or organizational structure).
  • Ability to read and interpret shop drawings and specifications; strong attention to detail and quality standards.
  • Proficiency with common business tools (Excel/Google Sheets, email, scheduling/project tracking); ability to learn and optimize ERP/MRP and CAD/CAM-related workflows.
  • Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally to job sites as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 10+ years in cabinetry/millwork with experience scaling a small operation (growth, new facility, second shift, new product lines).
  • Experience with lean manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping, or similar continuous improvement frameworks.
  • Familiarity with CNC programming/workflow integration and/or production planning tools.
  • Background partnering with designers, builders, and homeowners on custom projects with complex requirements and tight deadlines.
  • Experience developing compensation plans, incentive programs, or performance-based KPIs in a production environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, construction management, or equivalent experience.

Leadership & Change Competencies

  • Outstanding leader: Builds trust quickly, communicates clearly, and sets a high standard for behavior, safety, and quality.
  • Operational ownership: Takes responsibility for outcomes; uses data and observation to diagnose issues and drive solutions.
  • People developer: Coaches supervisors and team members; provides direct feedback; creates growth paths and succession plans.
  • Change leader: Plans and executes change in a structured way-aligning stakeholders, managing resistance, and sustaining adoption.
  • Customer-first mindset: Balances responsiveness with disciplined scope control and margin protection.
  • Continuous improvement: Establishes standard work, measures performance, and runs problem-solving routines that reduce variability and rework.
  • Cross-functional collaboration: Creates strong handoffs between sales, design, shop, and install; resolves conflict and clarifies decision rights.
  • Business acumen: Understands how lead times, capacity, pricing, and mix drive financial results; makes tradeoffs accordingly.
  • Integrity & accountability: Models ethical decision-making and follows through on commitments.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

  • Work is performed in both office and shop environments; occasional jobsite visits are required.
  • Must be able to move safely through a production facility and job sites, including uneven surfaces and areas with active equipment.
  • Ability to lift up to 25-50 lbs occasionally (tools, samples, materials), with reasonable accommodation as applicable.
  • May require extended hours during peak workload periods, critical installations, or operational transitions.

How to Apply

If you are a detail-oriented and safety-conscious individual looking for a career in warehouse operations, we encourage you to apply today!

Submit your application now!

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