Apparel Factory Operations Manager

Overview

Mello is a premium custom merchandise and production company based in Austin, Texas. We work with fast-growing brands in food, beverage, lifestyle, hospitality, and retail to create high-quality, design-forward apparel, headwear, and branded goods that people actually want to wear and keep.

• Oversee daily production operations across screen printing, embroidery, and sewing.
• Manage scheduling, staffing, quality control, and throughput targets.
• Implement SOPs to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure repeatable best practices.
• Train and lead production staff, ensuring safety and quality standards are consistently met.
• Troubleshoot machinery, inks, dyes, embroidery equipment, presses, dryers, and QC issues.
• Coordinate with account managers and leadership on job timelines and production forecasting.
• Maintain inventory for blanks, inks, chemicals, dyes, threads, consumables, and equipment maintenance.
• Optimize factory layout, order flow, and equipment utilization.
• Support R&D on new decoration techniques, garment treatments, and specialty print methods.

• 5+ years of hands-on production experience in a screen printing, embroidery, or fashion manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing a production team.
• Strong technical understanding of print methods, ink systems, dye processes, pretreatment, tensions, and QC standards.
• Cut/sew production experience a plus, willingness to learn a must.
• Experience with production scheduling, workflow planning, and equipment troubleshooting.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, growing custom merchandise environment.

• Experience scaling a production floor or launching new capabilities.
• Knowledge of Lean, 5S, or similar operational frameworks.
• Ability to adapt quickly and implement structure in evolving environments.

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Paid holidays + paid time off.
• Growth opportunities as our operation expands.

Submit your resume, brief cover letter, and (optional) portfolio of past operational achievements.