Tooling Manager

Creative Liquid Coatings, Inc.; Kendallville (IN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Creative Liquid Coatings, Inc. is seeking a senior Tooling Manager to lead tooling operations across injection molds, fixtures, and related equipment.

You will partner with Engineering, Production, Maintenance, Quality, and external suppliers to drive reliability, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring safety and compliance. This role requires strong leadership and hands-on tooling expertise to align strategies with production needs.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of tooling, mold maintenance, or tooling engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 3–5 years of leadership or management experience in tooling or manufacturing operations.
• Automotive manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, tooling prints, CAD models, and specifications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement tooling strategies that support operational and business objectives.
• Oversee mold maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, modifications, and changeover support.
• Lead tooling readiness for new product launches and transfers.
• Coordinate with Engineering on tooling design reviews and process optimization.
• Maintain preventive/predictive maintenance programs and tooling records.
• Manage tooling budgets, supplier relations, and vendor services.

Job description

The Tooling Manager is responsible for leading and managing all tooling operations to ensure injection molds, fixtures, and related tooling are available, maintained, and optimized to support production, quality, safety, and business objectives. This position oversees tooling personnel, tooling strategy, preventive maintenance programs, tooling budgets, vendor relationships, and new program launches. The Tooling Manager works closely with Engineering, Production, Maintenance, Quality, and external suppliers to drive tooling reliability, operational efficiency, cost reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Roles and Responsibilities

Tooling Operations & Strategy

• Develop and implement tooling strategies that support operational and business objectives.
• Oversee all tooling activities including mold maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, modifications, and changeover support.
• Ensure tooling assets are maintained in safe, reliable, and production-ready condition.
• Establish tooling priorities based on production schedules, customer requirements, and business needs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve tooling performance, uptime, and efficiency.
• Monitor tooling utilization, performance metrics, and maintenance trends and implement corrective actions as needed.

Leadership & Team Management

• Manage, coach, and develop Tooling Supervisors, Tooling Technicians, and tooling support personnel.
• Establish performance expectations and provide regular coaching and performance feedback.
• Support workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, training, and succession planning activities.
• Promote employee engagement, accountability, and continuous development within the tooling department.
• Ensure employees receive required technical, safety, and compliance training.

New Program Launches & Engineering Support

• Lead tooling readiness activities for new product launches and production transfers.
• Coordinate mold tryouts, qualifications, validations, and production startup activities.
• Partner with Engineering on tooling design reviews, modifications, improvements, and process optimization projects.
• Support manufacturability reviews to improve quality, productivity, and tooling reliability.
• Ensure tooling requirements are properly assessed, planned, and executed during new program development.

Maintenance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain preventive and predictive maintenance programs for all tooling assets.
• Ensure tooling maintenance records, repair histories, and documentation are accurate and complete.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for tooling-related quality, scrap, downtime, or production issues.
• Implement best practices, standard work, and lean manufacturing principles within tooling operations.
• Support 5S, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the tooling department.
• Manage relationships with tooling suppliers, mold builders, and external repair vendors.
• Evaluate supplier performance and support vendor selection activities.
• Develop and manage tooling budgets including repair, maintenance, replacement, and capital expenditures.
• Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities while maintaining tooling quality and reliability.
• Support tooling procurement activities and approval of tooling-related expenditures within assigned authority levels.

Compliance & Operational Excellence

• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain tooling areas in accordance with company housekeeping and 5S standards.
• Support customer visits, audits, certifications, and internal assessments.
• Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Materials, and Engineering teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly manages Tooling Supervisors, Tooling Technicians, Mold Maintenance Technicians, and tooling support personnel.
• Responsible for hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions in accordance with company policies.
• Establishes department goals and performance metrics.
• Oversees workforce scheduling and resource allocation to support operational requirements.
• Develops succession plans and employee development strategies.

Skill and Education Requirements

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate degree in Tooling Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Engineering, or related technical field preferred.
• Minimum 7-10 years of tooling, mold maintenance, or tooling engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3-5 years of leadership or management experience in tooling or manufacturing operations.
• Automotive manufacturing experience preferred.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Advanced knowledge of injection molds, tooling systems, mold maintenance, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance practices.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, tooling prints, CAD models, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Experience with tooling project management and new program launches.
• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with ERP, CMMS, and manufacturing systems preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

General Requirements

• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and external suppliers.
• Strong decision-making and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong business acumen with focus on cost control, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Work is performed primarily in manufacturing, tooling shop, and office environments.
• Frequent exposure to production equipment, machinery, moving mechanical parts, noise, oils, coolants, and varying temperatures.
• PPE is required in designated production and tooling areas.
• Physical demands include standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasional lifting of tooling components and equipment.
• Occasional extended hours, weekend work, or off-shift support may be required.
• Occasional travel to suppliers, customers, or other company locations may be required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Authority

• Authority to direct and prioritize tooling operations and resources.
• Authority to assign work and manage tooling personnel.
• Authority to enforce safety, quality, maintenance, and tooling standards.
• Authority to approve tooling repairs, maintenance activities, and vendor services within approved spending limits.
• Authority to recommend capital investments, tooling replacements, and process improvements.
• Authority to coordinate tooling priorities across Engineering, Maintenance, Production, and Quality departments.
• Authority to elevate tooling-related business risks, quality concerns, downtime events, or capacity constraints to leadership.
• Authority to support personnel decisions in accordance with company policies.