Toolmaker Team Leader Job Portland area,Tennessee USA,Manufacturing / Production

Position: Toolmaker Team Leader - $2,500 Signing Bonus

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Tool & Die Team Leader is a working leader responsible for coordinating day-to-day tooling activities while performing Tool & Die Maker responsibilities as needed. This position provides technical direction and floor leadership to Tool & Die Makers and apprentices to ensure production tooling is safe, reliable, available, and maintained to meet production and customer requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Coordinate the tool room schedule, assign daily priorities, and ensure production tooling and equipment are ready to meet customer requirements.

Lead and support troubleshooting of tooling problems at presses, including complex or recurring issues.

Work with Tooling, Production, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to continuously improve tooling reliability, quality, and production performance.

Perform Tool & Die Maker duties and support production equipment as necessary to maintain production.

Coordinate supplies, spare parts, and critical tooling components; maintain organized tool room and die storage areas.

Ensure safe, clean, and organized work areas and reinforce 5S expectations within the tooling area.

Coordinate with outside trades and suppliers as required and communicate status, timing, and needs to the Tooling Manager.

Coordinate and support overtime or call-in coverage as required to meet production and tooling needs.

Participate in technical and leadership training and support training and development of Tool & Die Makers and apprentices.

Lead and support continuous improvement activities focused on tooling reliability, die performance, quality, safety, and cost.

Interpret prints for tooling modifications, accuracy, repairs, and improvements; provide technical guidance to the tooling team.

Work with Engineers to create or modify prints and documentation to accurately reflect tooling changes.

Coordinate and perform preventive maintenance assignments; monitor completion and elevate overdue or high-risk tooling concerns.

Provide daily direction, coaching, and technical support to Tool & Die Makers and apprentices; communicate shift priorities and open issues; perform other duties assigned by the next-level leader.

TEAM LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead by example through professionalism, attendance, workmanship, urgency, accountability, and teamwork.
Provide feedback to the Tooling Manager regarding associate performance, training needs, workload, recurring tooling issues, and department concerns.
Reinforce NASG policies, safety requirements, Lockout/Tagout, PPE, quality standards, and department expectations.
Ensure clear shift-to-shift communication of open tooling issues, repair status, parts needs, and production risks.
Monitor progress of tooling repairs, PM activities, and improvement work; follow through to completion and elevate risks affecting safety, quality, production, or delivery.
Confirm daily manpower and work assignments and adjust priorities based on production needs, downtime, preventive maintenance, and emergency repairs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Required
- High School Diploma or GED
Preferred
- Certified Toolmaker or 5 years’ experience in Tool and Die field
Would be nice
- Apprenticeship Program completion

Experience and skill requirements:

Minimum five (5) years Tool & Die Maker experience preferred, with demonstrated proficiency in die repair, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and tooling modifications.
Demonstrated leadership, communication, coaching, and problem-solving skills; self-motivated and able to set priorities and meet Tooling Department goals.
Working computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel; CAD experience preferred. Previous mentoring, training, team lead, or demonstrated leadership experience preferred.
Ability to learn and support basic electronics, sensors, mistake-proofing, and die-protection systems; ability to identify recurring failures and support root-cause corrective action.