Manufacturing Manager

Titus Talent Strategies has partnered with Vail Rubber Works as they look to hire a Manufacturing Manager that can lead their continued growth within the roll coverings industry.

Vail Rubber Works is a long-standing, employee-focused manufacturer specializing in high‑performance rubber roll coverings and custom rubber solutions. Known for craftsmanship, safety, and reliability, VRW supports customers across demanding industrial applications by combining deep material expertise with disciplined manufacturing processes.

Stable ownership, hands‑on leadership, commitment to safety, and the opportunity to lead meaningful operational improvement across multiple plants.

The Manufacturing Manager owns the quality, safety, cost, and on‑time delivery of finished products across manufacturing operations, with direct responsibility for daily plant performance, roll scheduling, and inter‑plant distribution. Reporting to the President, this leader sets the operational tone for safety, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.

• Establish credibility on the plant floor through hands‑on leadership
• Fully understand VRW roll covering processes, materials, routing, and scheduling logic
• Assess safety practices, preventive maintenance, scrap drivers, and workflow constraints
• Build strong relationships with supervisors, operators, and cross‑functional partners

• Improve on‑time delivery and schedule adherence across plants
• Reduce scrap and rework through process discipline and preventive maintenance
• Strengthen ISO 9001 compliance and documentation adherence
• Improve inter‑plant logistics efficiency between St. Joseph and Mobile
• Create a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement
• Improve cost structure through smarter processes and asset reliability
• Be a trusted manufacturing advisor to company leadership

• Lead day‑to‑day manufacturing operations across all departments and the Roll Office
• Schedule production to meet promised customer delivery dates
• Dotted line oversight of receiving, shipping, and internal distribution of rolls

• Maintain a safe working environment; serve as an active Safety Committee member
• Ensure full compliance with ISO 9001 work processes and instructions
• Minimize scrap and downtime through preventive maintenance programs
• Improve manufacturing processes, workflow, and operational efficiency
• Promote quality control processes are consistently followed

• Foster positive employee relations and strong communication
• Hire, develop, and staff production employees and supervisors
• Set clear expectations and performance standards
• Coordinate efficiently between St. Joseph and Mobile operations
• Communicate priority changes and production status to internal teams

• 10+ years of manufacturing experience, in roll covering or rubber processing
• Proven leadership of multi‑department or multi‑plant operations

• Rubber materials, production processes, quality control, and testing
• Preventive maintenance systems and scheduling
• Manufacturing logistics and truck routing
• Safety‑first mindset with visible floor presence
• Clear, respectful communicator at all organizational levels
• Continuous improvement and cost‑reduction orientation

• Direct influence on company‑wide manufacturing performance
• Close partnership with executive leadership
• Opportunity to leave a lasting operational legacy