Production Supervisor – Growth Role for Hands-On Manufacturing Leaders
Ready to Step Up from Lead to Supervisor?
If you are a Lead Operator, Production Lead, Line Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Operator who has been informally leading people on the floor and is ready for the next step, this role is designed for you.
You will join a stable, niche manufacturer of air-control products (like louvers and dampers) where your reliability, work ethic, and ability to guide others will matter more than having a fancy title or a degree. This is a place where you can grow from "strong performer on the floor" to "go-to leader" over time.
What You Will Do
- Lead a small production team on the shop floor in a sheet metal/fabrication environment (press brakes, metal components, and related processes).
- Set the tone for your shift: organize work, communicate expectations, and help your team stay focused and on pace.
- Coach and support team members through everyday issues—both performance-related and personal—so the work gets done safely, correctly, and on time.
- Monitor quality and output, help solve problems as they arise, and escalate issues when needed.
- Keep the area organized and safe, reinforcing company standards and best practices.
You will spend most of your time on the floor, side-by-side with your team, not behind a desk.
Why This Is a Strong Place to Build Your Career
- Stable, specialized manufacturing environment: You will be joining a long-standing manufacturer in a niche, essential industrial segment (air-control products such as louvers and dampers), offering steady work that does not chase short-term trends.
- Supportive, team-focused culture: Employees describe a friendly, cooperative atmosphere with coworkers and leaders who are willing to help you learn, answer questions, and support you as you take on more responsibility.
- Real opportunity to grow over time: Advancement is tied to performance and reliability—those who show up, take ownership, and deliver results can earn more responsibility, move into higher-impact roles, and build a long-term career here.
- Skills that travel with you: You will develop practical leadership and manufacturing skills—from scheduling and quality to process improvement and people management—in a specialized environment that strengthens your value in the broader industrial job market.
What We Are Looking For
This is a great fit if you:
- Have several years of experience in manufacturing (sheet metal, fabrication, HVAC-related components, or similar).
- Are currently in a role such as Lead Operator, Production Lead, Line Lead, Team Lead, Senior Machine Operator, Cell Lead, Shift Lead, Assembly Lead, or Department Lead and want to move into a formal supervisor role.
- Are comfortable talking with different types of people and can balance accountability with respect.
- Like being the person others go to when they have questions or problems on the floor.
- Take pride in being reliable, consistent, and calm—even when things get busy or stressful.
A degree is not required. What matters most is your track record of showing up, doing things the right way, and helping others do the same.
Nice-to-Have Backgrounds
Candidates coming from one or more of these areas often do well in this environment:
- Sheet metal manufacturing or metal fabrication
- Press brake operations or similar forming processes
- HVAC-related work where you understand air systems and components (HVAC technician, installer, service tech, TAB tech, or commissioning tech)
- Building automation or controls related to HVAC systems
If you have been around industrial equipment, metal, or HVAC products and enjoy hands-on work, you will recognize a lot of what is happening on the floor.
What This Role Can Do for You
- Give you your first formal leadership title if you are currently a lead or senior operator.
- Build your confidence in coaching people, handling issues early, and keeping a team moving in the same direction.
- Strengthen your resume for future opportunities as a Production Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, or Operations Supervisor.
- Put you in a position where your contribution is visible to management every day.
You can also reach out directly to David McKnight at 608-514-9815 to schedule a confidential conversation about the position and your goals.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
