Director of Manufacturing | Sewing

POLYWOOD®; Syracuse (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

POLYWOOD makes sustainable outdoor furniture and operates two sewing and cushion facilities in Syracuse, Indiana and Roxboro, North Carolina. We seek a Director of Manufacturing – Sewing to lead industrial sewing and cushion operations, develop leaders, and build training programs while preserving safety, quality, and a strong culture.

You will drive cross-site alignment, implement formal skill progression, and create clear career paths with in-house certifications, ensuring ongoing growth for

Qualifications

• Experience leading an industrial sewing department or sewing operations.
• Experience at Manager/Senior Manager/Director level in manufacturing leadership.
• Experience creating, implementing, or shaping formal training or certification programs.
• Ability to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity without dehumanizing workers.
• Willingness to lead across two campuses and build a shared vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead and align industrial sewing and cushion operations across Syracuse, IN and Roxboro, NC.
• Build strong relationships with employees, supervisors, and managers on both campuses.
• Develop a formal training program with defined skill progression and in-house certifications.
• Coach and develop managers and future leaders with clear expectations and feedback.
• Protect and enhance the healthy culture while driving safety and quality improvements.
• Create shared standards that respect each campus’ strengths and identity.
• Use data and insights to identify opportunities and sustainable solutions.
• Help employees grow and build a career path at POLYWOOD.

Skills

Industrial sewing

People leadership

Training program design

Cross-site coordination

Job description

POLYWOOD is changing what it means to own outdoor furniture. For 35 years, we have built iconic outdoor furniture from recycled HDPE lumber, designed to outlast weather, kids, and trends.

We are a vertically integrated American manufacturer with a brand that is growing into something bigger, the outdoor home.

Our cushions are an important part of that experience. They bring comfort, color, and craftsmanship to our furniture, and they are made possible by talented people who take pride in what they create.

We are looking for a Director of Manufacturing | Sewing to lead our industrial sewing and cushion operations across Syracuse, Indiana, and Roxboro, North Carolina.

This is not a turnaround assignment.

Both campuses have strong employees, capable leaders, and extremely low leadership turnover. The foundation is healthy. The opportunity is to listen, learn, connect two successful operations, and help good teams become even better.

This is a senior, hands‑on manufacturing leadership role for someone who knows how to improve performance without losing sight of the people behind it.

You will lead with service, stay close to the work, and build the training and development structure that helps employees see what they can learn, what they can achieve, and where they can go next.

About Us

POLYWOOD makes sustainable outdoor furniture that brings people together and lasts for generations.

We are proudly made in the USA, and the strength of our products starts with the strength of our people.

Manufacturing is not something that happens behind our brand. It is central to who we are. The craftsmanship, care, and pride of our employees can be seen and felt in every product we make.

Our Sewing teams create the cushions that bring another layer of comfort, color, and personality to the POLYWOOD experience. The work is tangible. The craftsmanship matters. The teams are proud of what they make.

This Director will help those teams grow their capabilities, create clearer career paths, and continue raising the bar on quality, performance, and care.

See the products this team brings to life: POLYWOOD Outdoor Cushions

The Work You’ll Love Doing

This is not a role for someone who only wants to lead from a distance.

We need someone who can set direction across two campuses, develop leaders, improve operations, and still spend meaningful time with the people closest to the work.

You will step into two stable Sewing operations with strong teams and a culture worth protecting. Your work will begin by listening, understanding what makes each location successful, and identifying where greater alignment can make both campuses stronger.

One of your most meaningful opportunities will be building a formal training and certification program for the department.

We love promoting from within. We want employees to see a clear path forward, supported by defined skill progression, in-house certifications, and development opportunities that prepare them for what comes next.

You will be trusted to lead that work, connect the two campuses, and create a shared vision for what great can look like.

Where You Will Make an Impact

• Lead and align industrial sewing and cushion operations across our Syracuse and Roxboro campuses
• Build strong relationships with employees, supervisors, and managers by maintaining a visible and meaningful presence at both locations
• Develop a formal training program with defined skill progression, in-house certifications, and clear growth paths
• Coach and develop managers, supervisors, and future leaders through clear expectations, consistent feedback, trust, and accountability
• Protect the healthy culture already in place while identifying thoughtful opportunities to improve safety, quality, flow, labor planning, productivity, and the employee experience
• Create shared standards where they add value while respecting the strengths, identity, and experience of each campus
• Use performance data and employee insight to identify opportunities and build sustainable solutions
• Partner with Operations, Human Resources, Safety, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to remove barriers and support continued growth
• Help employees understand not only how to perform the work, but how they can continue developing and building a career at POLYWOOD

What You Bring

You have experience in industrial sewing or sewn-products manufacturing, either through hands‑on sewing experience or leadership of an industrial sewing department.

You have led at the Manager, Senior Manager, or Director level within an industrial sewing department or another manufacturing operation. We view leadership of an industrial sewing department as manufacturing leadership because that is exactly what it is.

You have helped create, implement, or meaningfully shape a formal training or certification program in a production environment. You understand how to translate knowledge into repeatable training, measurable skill development, and visible career opportunities.

You know how to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity without treating people like numbers.

You are comfortable leading across multiple locations. You know when consistency matters, when each campus needs flexibility, and how to bring two teams together around a shared direction.

Most importantly, you are a servant leader who is hungry, humble, and smart.

You listen before assuming. You ask better questions. You give credit, accept accountability, and know that leadership is measured by what your team is able to accomplish and become.

Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is a meaningful bonus. We are also interested in leaders who have demonstrated an ability to build trust and communicate effectively with employees whose primary language is Spanish.

What Makes This Role Special

If you are energized

POLYWOOD is an equal opportunity employer. POLYWOOD evaluates qualified applicants without regard to characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.