Tooling Manager

Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned business where our will to grow drives us to do it better. Join the team and become part of our family!

POSITION PURPOSE/MISSION :

Lead and direct multi-site tooling operations across the Shawano and Bonduel, Wisconsin locations. This role is primarily responsible for creating and maintaining tooling, patterns, and core boxes in a green sand foundry environment. The Tooling Manager will guide a team of internal Pattern Makers and assigned production employees to ensure our tooling is properly prepared for new product launches, meets customer requirements, adheres to production schedules, and supports long-term operational needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

• Bachelor’s Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in a heavy manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, pattern making, or related manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of supervisory/leadership experience in a manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, or pattern‑making environment.
• Experience managing or leading a pattern shop, tool and die operation, or a similar skilled trades environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of green sand foundry operations, including pattern creation, pattern maintenance, core boxes, gating, rigging, molding lines, and tooling requirements.
• Experience with CAD, CAM, CNC equipment, tooling design software, or computerized maintenance/work order systems.
• Demonstrated experience in cost reduction through process improvements, Continuous Improvement techniques, tooling reliability improvements, and project management.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, drawings, specifications, work instructions, and customer requirements.
• Knowledge of precision measurement instruments, machining equipment, power tools, hand tools, and tooling repair methods.
• Ability to evaluate tooling condition, prioritize repair and maintenance needs, and determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Demonstrated experience in fostering a culture of teamwork, including cross‑functional teams, to coach, motivate, lead, and develop direct reports.
• Proficient in the basic features of Microsoft Office products.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

• Master’s Degree in a technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in a heavy manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, pattern making, or related manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of supervisory/leadership experience in a manufacturing, foundry, tooling, machining, or pattern‑making environment.
• Experience working in a green sand iron foundry environment.
• Experience managing pattern shops, tooling departments, machining areas, or skilled trades employees.
• Experience coordinating outsourced tooling, pattern construction, pattern repair, or vendor‑performed tooling work.
• Experience in an organization with ISO/Quality System Requirements.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES :

• Lead multi‑site tooling operations across the Shawano and Bonduel locations.
• Direct an organized and systematic approach to the tooling needs of the plant by managing staffing, equipment, tooling priorities, training needs, tooling capacity and capability, pattern readiness, and tooling maintenance.
• Work directly with internal teams such as New Product Development, Commercial, Operations, Safety, and Quality, as well as external vendors and customers to define tooling requirements.
• Lead tooling operations for the green sand foundry environment via pattern creation, pattern modification, pattern repair, core box readiness, gating, mounting, rigging, outsourced tooling, and tooling maintenance activities.
• Supervise Pattern Makers and Production Shift Supervisors by providing operational direction, assigning priorities, monitoring performance, developing employees, and ensuring work is completed according to safety, quality, customer, and production requirements.
• Participate in developing and managing the tooling operation budget including materials, outsourced tooling, repair costs, supplies, and tooling‑related capital needs.
• Ensure patterns, core boxes, gating, and related tooling comply with quality, customer, production, and dimensional requirements.
• Coordinate…