Shop Manager – Kalamazoo Area

The Pivot Group Careers; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 87,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pivot Group Network is seeking a Shop Manager for opportunities with manufacturers in and around Kalamazoo, MI. This role focuses on leading production floors, scheduling, and ensuring quality and safety on the shop floor.

Salary ranges from $87,000 to $133,000 depending on experience, with a focus on aligning with regional manufacturing needs and ensuring productive, safe operations. Applicants should be authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Prior supervisory or lead experience on a production floor.
• Ability to read blueprints and shop drawings.
• Working knowledge of shop equipment and common machining or fabrication processes.
• Strong scheduling and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication with production staff and management.
• Several years of hands-on experience in a machine shop or fabrication environment.
• Experience with shop scheduling or ERP software.

Responsibilities

• Report daily production results and staffing issues to plant leadership.
• Open the shop each morning and confirm staffing for the day.
• Assign work orders to machinists and fabricators based on schedule and skill.
• Walk the floor through the day to check progress and quality.
• Resolve production problems such as machine downtime or material shortages.
• Track output against the schedule and adjust priorities when jobs fall behind.
• Enforce safety rules and address unsafe conditions on the floor.
• Review completed work before it moves to the next operation or ships.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Blueprint reading

Shop equipment knowledge

Scheduling

Communication

Machining / fabrication experience

Job description

Job Description:

Shop Manager | Kalamazoo, MI

Salary Range: $87,000 - $133,000 depending on experience

Are you a skilled professional with a passion for excelling as a shop manager? The Pivot Group Network, a Michigan manufacturing-focused recruiting group, is dedicated to building meaningful connections in the manufacturing community. We collaborate with companies in the Kalamazoo area seeking experienced Shop Managers.

We are building our network of talent in this field across Michigan’s manufacturing regions. Our partner companies may or may not have an immediate opening for this exact role today, but we actively look for skilled professionals in the regions where they operate. If there is alignment now or in the near future, we reach out.

This posting covers Shop Manager opportunities with manufacturers based in and around Kalamazoo in Kalamazoo County, within about 30 minutes of the city, including Galesburg, Comstock, Oshtemo, and Parchment.

The Opportunity

We partner with manufacturers across the Kalamazoo area seeking Shop Managers who want more than a lateral move. These companies hire intentionally, and we connect them with professionals ready for roles that fit.

Usual Responsibilities

• Report daily production results and staffing issues to plant leadership.
• Open the shop each morning and confirm staffing for the day.
• Assign work orders to machinists and fabricators based on schedule and skill.
• Walk the floor through the day to check progress and quality.
• Resolve production problems such as machine downtime or material shortages.
• Track output against the schedule and adjust priorities when jobs fall behind.
• Enforce safety rules and address unsafe conditions on the floor.
• Review completed work before it moves to the next operation or ships.

Recommended Qualifications

• Prior supervisory or lead experience on a production floor.
• Ability to read blueprints and shop drawings.
• Working knowledge of shop equipment and common machining or fabrication processes.
• Strong scheduling and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication with production staff and management.
• Several years of hands-on experience in a machine shop or fabrication environment.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with shop scheduling or ERP software.
• Trade school certificate or apprenticeship completion.
• Familiarity with quality systems such as ISO 9001.
• Forklift or crane certification.
• Formal training in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement.

Job Titles That Should Apply

Production Supervisor, Machine Shop Supervisor, Fabrication Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor, Plant Supervisor, Shop Foreman, Production Manager, Operations Supervisor, Lead Machinist, Shop Supervisor

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Why The Pivot Group Network

The Pivot Group Network was founded by manufacturing professionals who’ve been on both sides of the hiring process. Our clients are strategic – they partner with us because they want real insight into their roles and the people filling them, not a stack of resumes. We focus on match-driven placements built around what actually matters: Commute, Compensation, Culture, and Career trajectory. Learn more at https://www.thepivotgroup.org.

Required Skills:

Resume Safety Regulations Offers Technical Proficiency Inventory Supply Chain Cost Reduction Access Support Waste Logistics Key Performance Indicators Compliance Salary Hiring Partnerships Recruiting Compensation Supply Reviews Metrics Quality Control Inventory Management Manufacturing Regulations Scheduling Preparation Training Management

Salary Package:

$ 87,000.00 - 133,000.00 (US Dollar)