Shop Manager

Aardvark Studios; Conshohocken (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid time off

Medical benefits

Disability options

Retirement matching

On-site gym

Tesla charging

Dog-friendly

Job summary

Aardvark Studios is seeking a hands-on Shop Manager to lead fabrications, drive quality, safety, and efficiency across our shop.

You will manage day-to-day workflow, mentor makers, coordinate with design engineering and project management, and ensure builds meet high standards on time and budget. Reporting to the COO, this role requires strong leadership and lean-practice focus in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of proven experience in a Shop Foreman, Production Lead, or similar fabrication leadership role.
• Demonstrated success managing teams in a fast-paced, custom fabrication or production environment.
• Strong understanding of woodworking, metal fabrication, CNC operations, and specialty fabrication techniques.
• Knowledge of Lean/5S principles and process standardization.

Responsibilities

• Hire, manage, and develop fabrication team members across wood, CNC, metal, and specialty disciplines.
• Lead daily shop huddles and ensure clear team alignment and communication.
• Implement lean initiatives and continuous improvement practices.
• Manage all aspects of shop safety and compliance.
• Maintain shop cleanliness, organization, and readiness for daily operations.
• Oversee equipment repair, maintenance, and usage.
• Ensure production quality standards are met while minimizing rework.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering, Project Management, and Production teams to meet deadlines and budget goals.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Quality control

Safety compliance

Project coordination

Tools

Smartsheet

Google Suite

Rhino

Job description

Are you ready to join an innovative team that pushes the boundaries of creativity and delivers top-notch results? At Aardvark Studios, we thrive in a multitude of creative landscapes. Simply calling us a "Creative Fabrication Company" or an "Experiential Marketing Company" doesn't capture the full scope of what we do. We are a dynamic design, build, and technology studio serving the experiential marketing and location-based entertainment industries and constantly evolving with each and every unique project.

We are looking for a Shop Manager to join the team! As a Shop Manager with Aardvark Studios, you’ll lead the charge with hands‑on leadership, driving quality, safety, and efficiency across our fabrication operations. You’ll oversee the day‑to‑day workflow, support and develop our skilled makers, and ensure that every build leaving the shop meets the highest standards — on time and on budget. This is a hands‑on leadership role reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. The Shop Manager will work closely with project management, design engineering, and quality control to ensure builds are executed safely, efficiently, and to Aardvark’s high standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

What makes you the ideal candidate:

• 5+ years of proven experience as a Shop Foreman, Production Lead, or similar fabrication leadership role
• Demonstrated success managing teams in a fast‑paced, custom fabrication or production environment
• Strong understanding of woodworking, metal fabrication, CNC operations, and specialty fabrication techniques
• Preferred software familiarity and digital geometry manipulation(Smartsheet, Google Suite, Rhino,)
• Knowledge of Lean/5S principles and process standardization
• Forklift/MEWP certification and training experience
  

Requirements or what else is helpful:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and mentor a diverse team
• Proven track record of delivering projects on time, within budget, and at the highest quality
• Physical stamina and the ability to lift heavy materials safely
• Strong organizational skills with a focus on cleanliness, workflow, and continuous improvement

Are you ready to join an innovative team that pushes the boundaries of creativity and delivers top‑notch results? At Aardvark Studios, we thrive in a multitude of creative landscapes. Simply calling us a "Creative Fabrication Company" or an "Experiential Marketing Company" doesn't capture the full scope of what we do. We are a dynamic design, build, and technology studio serving the experiential marketing and location-based entertainment industries and constantly evolving with each and every unique project.

We are looking for a Shop Manager to join the team! As a Shop Manager with Aardvark Studios, you’ll lead the charge with hands‑on leadership, driving quality, safety, and efficiency across our fabrication operations. You’ll oversee the day‑to‑day workflow, support and develop our skilled makers, and ensure that every build leaving the shop meets the highest standards — on time and on budget. This is a hands‑on leadership role reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. The Shop Manager will work closely with project management, design engineering, and quality control to ensure builds are executed safely, efficiently, and to Aardvark’s high standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

What makes you the ideal candidate:

• 5+ years of proven experience as a Shop Foreman, Production Lead, or similar fabrication leadership role
• Demonstrated success managing teams in a fast‑paced, custom fabrication or production environment
• Strong understanding of woodworking, metal fabrication, CNC operations, and specialty fabrication techniques
• Preferred software familiarity and digital geometry manipulation(Smartsheet, Google Suite, Rhino,)
• Knowledge of Lean/5S principles and process standardization
• Forklift/MEWP certification and training experience
  

Requirements or what else is helpful:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and mentor a diverse team
• Proven track record of delivering projects on time, within budget, and at the highest quality
• Physical stamina and the ability to lift heavy materials safely
• Strong organizational skills with a focus on cleanliness, workflow, and continuous improvement

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Hire, manage, and develop fabrication team members across wood, CNC, metal, and specialty disciplines
• Lead daily shop huddles and ensure clear team alignment and communication
• Implement lean initiatives and continuous improvement practices
• Manage all aspects of shop safety and compliance
• Maintain shop cleanliness, organization, and readiness for daily operations
• Oversee equipment repair, maintenance, and usage
• Ensure production quality standards are met while minimizing rework
• Collaborate closely with Design Engineering, Project Management, and Production teams to meet deadlines and budget goals
• Set the shop up at the end of each day to ensure smooth operations the following morning
• Oversight of training and skill development, which supports your lean initiatives and safety goals
  

How we'll measure success:

• Projects consistently delivered on time and within budget
• Labor utilization consistently met above 90%
• Zero safety incidents in the shop with proactive hazard reporting
• Labor hours under budget for projects
• High team morale, strong communication, and low rework rates
  

What we offer:

• Highly competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Paid time off
• Medical/dental/vision benefits
• Short & long-term disability options
• Retirement matching after 1 year
• On-site private-use gym
• Free Tesla charging
• Dog-friendly workspace
  

Check us out on social here and here