Lead - Upholstery

Lead - Upholstery

Full Time Professional Hickory, NC, US

17 days ago Requisition

Position Summary

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Design Foundry community is seeking a Lead in our Upholstery/Trim Department. This role supports the Operations Manager in coordinating daily operations, supporting associates, and ensuring production, quality, and safety standards are consistently met.

The Lead serves as a working leader and cultural example on the floor — helping remove obstacles, drive accountability, and promote a positive, high-performing team environment.

The ideal candidate is dependable, detail-oriented, people-focused, and thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where teamwork, quality, and ownership matter.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a working lead to support and guide associates in daily production
• Model positive behaviors aligned with company values
• Help motivate the team to meet production and quality goals
• Provide real-time coaching and redirection as needed
• Assist with conflict resolution and “escalate” concerns appropriately
• Support a culture of respect, dignity, and teamwork

Production & Workflow Coordination

• Help coordinate daily workflow to maintain efficient production flow
• Monitor progress toward daily goals and communicate gaps to the manager
• Assist with balancing workload and labor needs
• Proactively identify issues and recommend solutions
• Help minimize downtime and rework

Quality & Standards

• Reinforce quality standards and proper upholstery/trim techniques
• Help identify defects early and reduce repair work
• Ensure associates follow specifications and build requirements
• Support training and reinforcement of best practices

Attendance & Staffing Awareness

• Maintain awareness of daily attendance to support staffing plans
• Communicate attendance concerns or trends to the manager
• Assist in onboarding and training new associates

Supplies & Organization

• Assist with monitoring supplies and notifying manager of needs
• Support inventory accuracy within the department
• Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area

Safety & Compliance

• Promote safe work practices at all times
• Reinforce safety expectations and proper tool use
• Report safety concerns promptly
• Support compliance with company policies

Core Values in Action

• We Are Family – Treat others with respect and support teammates
• We Own It – Take responsibility for results and follow through
• We Give Our All – Demonstrate strong effort and commitment to quality
• We Have Fun – Help maintain a positive, encouraging work environment

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Upholstery/trim experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong communication and people skills
• Problem-solving mindset
• Ability to multitask and prioritize
• Basic comfort with technology and reporting tools
• Dependable attendance and reliability
• Ability to lead by example

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Ability to lift, push, or pull materials as required in upholstery work
• Repetitive use of hands and tools
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment
• Manufacturing floor environment
• Exposure to typical production noise and materials