Department Manager - 2nd Shift (Summer 2027)

Pella Corporation; Carroll (IA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Pella Corporation in Carroll, IA, seeks a Department Manager for the 2nd shift to lead a production department and a 30-40 person hourly team. The role emphasizes safety, quality, and productivity, with hands-on leadership on the factory floor.

Ideal for new graduates or early-career leaders eager to grow in operations management, continuous improvement, and people leadership. Starting salary is $75,530 annually, with a structured college recruiting program and standard benefit options.

Qualifications

• Associate's/Bachelor's degree or 2-5 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and teamwork.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strong motivation, organization, and time management.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience a plus.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 30-40 hourly production employees on 2nd shift.
• Support safety, quality, and productivity across the department.
• Manage daily operations and monitor labor efficiency against budget goals.
• Coach employees through training, feedback, and performance discussions.
• Interview, hire, onboard, and develop team members.
• Address employee concerns and apply corrective action when needed.
• Support continuous improvement efforts using Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Verbal & Written Communication

Motivation

Time Management

Bilingual English/Spanish

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Education

Associate's/Bachelor's degree or 2-5 years experience

Job description

Department Manager - 2nd Shift (Summer 2027)

Department Manager - 2nd Shift

Full-Time Leadership Role | Manufacturing Operations

About the Role

The Department Manager is an entry- to early-career leadership role within Pella's manufacturing operations. In this position, you will lead a production department and manage a team of 30-40 hourly employees while supporting daily manufacturing goals related to safety, quality, and productivity.

This role is ideal for individuals interested in people leadership, operations management, and continuous improvement who want hands-on experience leading teams in a fast-paced environment.

While all qualified candidates will be considered, this role is primarily intended for new college graduates completing their degree in Spring 2027.

Compensation:

The starting salary for this position is $75,530 annually. Compensation for this role is established through Pella Corporation's college recruiting program. Eligible participants may receive transition assistance in accordance with company policies and program guidelines. Benefits are available in accordance with the terms of applicable benefit plans.

What You'll Do

As a Department Manager, you will be responsible for both leading people and supporting operational performance.

Core responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a team of 30-40 hourly production employees
• Supporting department performance in safety, quality, and productivity
• Managing daily operations on 2nd shift
• Monitoring labor efficiency and supporting department budget goals
• Coaching employees through training, feedback, and performance discussions
• Interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and developing team members
• Addressing employee concerns and applying corrective action when needed
• Supporting continuous improvement efforts using Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen principles

What This Role Is Like

This is a hands-on leadership role with regular time spent on the production floor. Successful Department Managers are visible, approachable, and comfortable working directly with employees to solve problems and improve processes.

The manufacturing environment is active and fast-moving, and the role requires comfort working in a production setting during off-shift hours.

What This Role Prepares You For

This position builds practical leadership and operations experience that translates across manufacturing and operations careers, including:

• People and team leadership
• Operations and production management
• Continuous improvement and process optimization
• Decision-making in a fast-paced environment

Talent development and coaching

Many leaders begin their careers in roles like this and continue into broader operations, technical, or leadership positions.

The ideal Department Manager will meet the following qualifications:

• Associate's/Bachelor's degree and/or 2-5 years of relevant experience
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Passion and the ability to motivate others
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Experience in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement a plus
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required