Manufacturing Operations Team Lead — Foundry

Manufacturing Operations Team Lead — Foundry

About Howmet Aerospace
We enable the next generation of aerospace and transportation through precision-engineered components: jet engine parts, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structures, and forged wheels. Our teams power fuel efficiency, quieter flight, and sustainable mobility.

Role snapshot

Lead an off-shift production area at Plant 3 – Whitehall Casting Operation. Direct people, schedules, and processes to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets in a union environment.

Core competencies

• Anticipation: Prepare the operation and inform planning with sharp questions and insights.
• Reliability: Model safe behaviors, share clear goals/metrics, and operate within the bargaining agreement.
• Optimizer: Drive throughput, quality, and waste reduction; align people and resources to outcomes.
• Facilitator: Connect planning, management, and execution; give precise instructions; represent the operation with stakeholders.
• Responsiveness: Adjust labor and variables quickly as conditions change.
• Influence: Delegate effectively; explain the “why”; handle conflict and change with poise.
• Organization: Plan daily work, coordinate priorities, and maintain contingencies.
• Observation: Use data and patterns to improve schedule accuracy, production quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Ownership: Be accountable for team and business performance; invite measurement and improvement.

What you'll do

• Run a cohesive team: meetings, performance appraisals, staffing (vacations, OT, LOA), development/coaching/training, time approval, work assignment.
• Give timely feedback; document corrective actions as required.
• Train and mentor new Supervisors.
• Deliver orientation and on-the-job training to reinforce EHS and policy adherence.
• Maintain compliance with the collective bargaining agreement; coordinate with union officials; resolve grievances.
• Ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, and practices.
• Plan production schedules and allocate work teams.
• Analyze production/operational reports; solve manufacturing and maintenance issues to minimize cost and prevent delays.
• Promote EHS and continuous improvement culture.
• Implement ABS; lead the 6S program and audits.
• Coordinate product flow with adjacent departments.
• Maintain inventories as applicable.
• Increase awareness of policies, regulations, procedures, and business initiatives; ensure compliance.
• Respond to emergencies; troubleshoot, investigate, and implement corrective actions for schedule, cost, quality, and other deviations.
• Prepare/analyze production documentation (reports, log sheets, etc.).
• Review work methods for safety compliance and address concerns.
• Design and implement process improvements to reduce costs and optimize labor/materials.
• Partner with management, engineering, and quality to fix maintenance problems and improve equipment conditions.
• Support budgeting and operational goal setting.
• Follow all EHS rules for the work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED from an accredited institution
• Minimum of 3 years leadership experience.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred qualifications

• Manufacturing supervisory experience
• Familiarity with TPM, Synchronous Manufacturing, and Kaizen
• Effective communicator at all levels; strong team-building and people skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities; technically oriented
• Self-starter who leads change; solid PC and telephone skills; highly organized
• Passion for continuous improvement

Compliance

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Learn more

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