Tooling Operations Lead

Accelera; Hopkins (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Accelera is seeking a Tooling Operations Lead to drive strategic oversight of the tooling department, ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency. You will mentor multidisciplinary teams and lead continuous improvement initiatives to meet complex manufacturing demands.

The role requires a strong background in high-volume manufacturing, lean principles, and cross-functional collaboration to optimize tooling performance and production workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering, business, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in tooling operations within high-volume manufacturing.
• Strong ability to drive performance improvements through data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Oversee lifecycle of tooling performance to guarantee on-time delivery and high-quality output.
• Direct and mentor a team of supervisors and tooling engineers.
• Collaborate with EHS, Engineering, and Quality Assurance to resolve technical challenges and streamline workflows.
• Manage external vendor relationships and tooling supply chain logistics to ensure availability of resources.
• Lead lean manufacturing projects to optimize throughput and reduce waste.
• Maintain departmental budgets and allocate resources to meet financial targets.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Data-driven decisions

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business

Job description

As a Tooling Operations Lead, you will spearhead the strategic oversight of our tooling department, ensuring high-performance standards in safety, quality, and operational efficiency. You will drive continuous improvement initiatives while mentoring a multidisciplinary team to meet complex manufacturing demands.

About the Role

As a Tooling Operations Lead, you will spearhead the strategic oversight of our tooling department, ensuring high-performance standards in safety, quality, and operational efficiency. You will drive continuous improvement initiatives while mentoring a multidisciplinary team to meet complex manufacturing demands.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire lifecycle of tooling performance, implementing strategies that guarantee on-time delivery and superior product quality.
• Direct and mentor a team of supervisors and tooling engineers, fostering a culture of professional growth and high technical proficiency.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with EHS, Engineering, and Quality Assurance teams to resolve technical challenges and streamline production workflows.
• Manage external vendor relationships and supply chain logistics to ensure consistent availability of critical tooling resources.
• Lead lean manufacturing projects to optimize throughput, reduce waste, and enhance overall operational excellence.
• Maintain fiscal responsibility by managing departmental budgets and resource allocation to align with organizational financial targets.
• Ensure full compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory standards within the production environment.

Qualifications

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing tooling operations within a high-volume manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in operations management and team leadership.
• Proven ability to drive performance improvements through data-driven decision-making.

Preferred Skills

• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on change management.
• Experience in high-precision manufacturing or regulated industrial environments.