Manufacturing Cell Manager

Index Search Group; Utah; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) match

Bonus opportunity

Long-term incentive

Job summary

Index Search is seeking a Manufacturing Cell Manager to lead a specialized production cell on-site in Utah, directing hourly staff and technical resources. The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, problem solving on the floor, and building robust processes to elevate quality, efficiency, and cost performance.

The ideal candidate will have extensive machining and assembly experience, strong budgeting capability, and a track record of implementing productive changes in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6-8 years of manufacturing experience.
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent with 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• An advanced degree with 2 years of business experience may also be considered.
• Machining and assembly experience.
• Manufacturing management experience.
• Machine shop experience is important; production planning background in a machine shop may be considered.
• Strong understanding of machine shop operations.
• CNC machining experience, including cutter compensation.
• Ability to implement changes that improve CNC processes.
• Prior budgeting and accounting experience, preferably with budget ownership.
• Cross-functional experience with Mechanical Engineering, Product Management, and other technical teams.
• Strong relationship-building across technical and operational teams.
• Purchasing experience and vendor interaction.
• Understanding of SPC and Total Quality concepts.
• Experience supervising manufacturing employees.
• Hands-on, resilient problem solving.
• Willingness to work directly with employees and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing cell operations and begin each day with a team standup.
• Manage employee time cards and support day-to-day workforce administration.
• Address employee and productivity issues with support from the broader organization.
• Set and communicate clear expectations for employees.
• Monitor employee performance and provide recognition when appropriate.
• Take corrective action when necessary.
• Recognize employees who meet or exceed objectives.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized working environment.
• Identify and implement continuous quality and cost improvements within cell operations.
• Use quality management techniques for problem solving and process decisions.
• Establish the cell budget and annual plan, monitor performance against the plan, and take corrective action as needed.
• Develop and implement systems that support cost reductions, quality improvements, productivity increases, inventory reductions, and service improvements.
• Support initiatives such as Assemble to Order, Build to Order, Line Stock, Kanban, new technology, automated assembly, and setup reductions.
• Develop systems to plan and manage production, capacity, inventories, and purchasing.
• Function as buyer/planner within the cell.
• Research, justify, procure, and implement new technology to maximize cell profitability.
• Work with suppliers to ensure components meet quality and delivery requirements.
• Identify process and component changes that improve standard products.
• Manage development and implementation of preproduction projects.
• Establish training requirements and cross-trained, multifunctional employees.
• Manage staff and resources to achieve cell objectives.
• Understand and implement the company's quality management system.
• Spend a minimum of 15% on the factory floor.

Job description

Our client is seeking a Manufacturing Cell Manager to lead production operations, people, and continuous improvement within a specialized manufacturing environment.

This role will oversee manufacturing cell performance across quality, productivity, cost, capacity, inventory, and employee development. The Manufacturing Cell Manager will lead daily team activities, address people and productivity issues, manage resources, and implement systems that improve how the cell operates.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on manufacturing leadership experience, strong machining and assembly knowledge, and the ability to implement change in a fast-moving environment. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is comfortable working directly with the team, solving problems on the floor, and building processes that improve performance.

The Environment

This is an on-site manufacturing leadership opportunity in Kamas, Utah, supporting the production of specialized high-purity fluid handling equipment used in high-tech industries, including semiconductor, solar, LED, chemical, and life sciences applications.

The Manufacturing Cell Manager will oversee a team of hourly manufacturing employees along with technical and production planning resources. The role reports to the Plant Manager and requires the manager to spend a minimum of 15% of their time on the factory floor.

The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The operation currently runs three production shifts and is beginning a weekend shift. Approximately once per month, the Manufacturing Cell Manager will come in early to check in with the third shift. The role does not require travel.

Key Focus Areas

• Lead daily manufacturing cell operations and begin each day with a team standup.
• Manage employee time cards and support day-to-day workforce administration.
• Address employee and productivity issues with the support of the broader organization.
• Set and communicate clear expectations for employees.
• Monitor employee performance and provide recognition when appropriate.
• Take corrective action when necessary.
• Recognize employees who meet or exceed objectives.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized working environment that supports efficient and productive operations.
• Proactively identify and implement continuous quality and cost improvements within cell operations.
• Use quality management techniques for problem solving, corrective action, and process decisions.
• Establish the cell budget and annual plan, monitor performance against the plan, and take corrective action as needed.
• Develop and implement systems that support cost reductions, quality improvements, productivity increases, inventory reductions, and service improvements.
• Support initiatives including Assemble to Order, Build to Order, Line Stock, Kanban, new technology, automated assembly, and setup reductions.
• Develop systems to plan and manage production, capacity, inventories, and purchasing.
• Function as the buyer/planner within the appropriate cell.
• Research, justify, procure, and implement new technology to maximize cell profitability.
• Work with suppliers to ensure components meet quality and delivery requirements.
• Identify process and component changes that improve the value and performance of standard products.
• Manage the development and implementation of preproduction projects.
• Establish training requirements and develop cross-trained, multifunctional employees.
• Manage staff and resources to achieve cell objectives.
• Understand and implement the company's quality management system.
• Spend a minimum of 15% of working time on the factory floor.

What Success Looks Like

• A well‑run manufacturing cell with clear expectations, strong communication, and consistent accountability.
• Improved productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Manufacturing processes that operate more smoothly and efficiently.
• Stronger systems for managing production, capacity, inventory, and purchasing.
• Cost reductions and productivity improvements identified and implemented.
• Effective use of new technology to improve cell profitability.
• Strong supplier performance around quality and delivery.
• Employees trained across multiple functions and prepared to support changing production needs.
• A clean, safe, and organized manufacturing environment.
• Production and quality issues addressed quickly and effectively.
• Strong employee engagement, recognition, and performance management.
• Continuous improvement embedded into day-to-day cell operations.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum of 6-8 years of manufacturing experience.
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent with 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• An advanced degree with 2 years of business experience may also be considered.
• Machining and assembly experience.
• Manufacturing management experience.
• Machine shop experience is important. Candidates with a production planning background within a machine shop environment may also be considered.
• Strong understanding of the fundamentals of a well‑run machine shop operation.
• Ability to establish manufacturing processes and gain team buy‑in around how operations should run.
• CNC machining experience, including experience with cutter compensation, is highly relevant.
• Understanding of cutter compensation and how it can be used to automatically adjust machine offsets.
• Ability to implement changes that improve CNC machining processes.
• Previous budgeting and accounting experience, preferably with ownership of a budget.
• Strong cross‑functional experience working with Mechanical Engineering, Product Management, and other technical teams.
• Strong relationship‑building skills across technical and operational teams.
• Purchasing experience and experience working with outside vendors.
• Understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Total Quality concepts.
• Experience supervising manufacturing employees.
• Comfortable working in a changing, entrepreneurial environment.
• Hands‑on, resilient approach to solving problems.
• Willingness to work directly with employees and operations rather than becoming overwhelmed by uncertainty or change.
• Strong ability to implement change and improve manufacturing processes.
• Ability to work on‑site in Kamas, Utah.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with occasional early mornings to check in with third shift.
• Ability to support an operation with three production shifts and a developing weekend shift.
• 10% corporate bonus opportunity, with potential for up to 20%.
• Long‑term incentive opportunity.
• Full health, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) with a 5% company match.

About Index Search

Index Search is an executive and professional search firm exclusively focused on manufacturing, distribution, and industrial technology. We use proactive search, industry expertise, and recruiters aligned to specific functions and role types to connect experienced professionals with opportunities where they can make a meaningful impact.