Assembly Department Manager

Labconco is a mid-sized, privately held company dedicated to building superior laboratory equipment. For more than 100 years, we have led the industry by prioritizing quality, our customers, and our people. We take genuine pride in delivering the best equipment and service possible, and that commitment begins in our production areas.

We are seeking an experienced Assembly Department Manager to lead our Assembly operations and support Assistant Department Managers in achieving production, quality, safety, and efficiency goals. This position plays a key role in coordinating daily manufacturing activities while fostering a positive, accountable, and productive work environment.

What You'll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop Assembly leaders and production teams to meet production schedules, quality standards, and operational objectives.
• Drive schedule conformance, productivity, cost control, safety performance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor production flow, material shortages, and delivery challenges, making adjustments to minimize disruptions and maintain customer commitments.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and other departments to improve processes, equipment utilization, and overall operational performance.
• Support and mentor Assistant Department Managers and other production leaders.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, associate involvement, and open communication.
• Facilitate problem-solving activities, Kaizen events, and continuous improvement efforts throughout Assembly.
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements, company policies, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Partner with leadership on staffing, training, employee development, and succession planning.
• Manage department resources and budgets to support operational goals.

Union Leadership Responsibilities

This position directly supervises union-represented employees and is responsible for ensuring consistent adherence to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The ideal candidate will have prior experience working in a union environment or managing teams governed by a labor agreement. Success in this role requires the ability to balance operational objectives while maintaining compliance with contractual requirements and fostering positive labor-management relationships.

What We're Looking For

• Associate degree in a technical, manufacturing, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading teams in production, assembly, or industrial operations.
• Prior union leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Experience with production planning, manufacturing processes, quality systems, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to analyze problems, make sound decisions, and drive results.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ERP/MRP systems; SyteLine experience is a plus.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to interpret drawings, blueprints, or manufacturing documentation.

Why Labconco?

At Labconco, you'll join a company with a century-long commitment to quality, innovation, and its people. We offer the opportunity to lead a talented manufacturing team, contribute to meaningful operational improvements, and help build products that support laboratories around the world.

If you're a hands-on manufacturing leader who enjoys developing people, improving processes, and driving operational excellence, we'd love to hear from you.