Position Summary
Salary: $70,000-85,000 DOE
Freedom Machine Group is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead the daily operations and long-term performance of our machining job shop in Valley City, ND. This role is responsible for overseeing production, people, quality, and profitability while ensuring customer commitments are consistently met.
The General Manager serves as the primary leader of the shop, balancing hands-on operational oversight with business and financial management. The ideal candidate has a strong machining background, understands job shop dynamics, and can take ownership of results.
Key Responsibilities
Shop Operations & Production
- Oversee all daily machining operations including CNC production, scheduling, and workflow
- Ensure jobs are completed safely, on time, and to customer quality requirements
- Manage capacity planning, labor utilization, and machine scheduling
- Monitor throughput, scrap, rework, and shop efficiency
- Ensure preventive maintenance and equipment upkeep are followed
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, direct, and support shop personnel including machinists, programmers, and supervisors
- Hire, train, develop, and retain skilled employees
- Set clear expectations and hold team members accountable for performance
- Promote a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement
Financial & Business Oversight
- Manage shop-level budgets, labor costs, and operating expenses
- Review job costing and profitability; identify and act on opportunities to improve margins
- Participate in quoting and pricing decisions in coordination with ownership and sales
- Work closely with the bookkeeper to ensure customer invoices are issued accurately and on a timely basis
- Monitor accounts receivable, review aging reports, and support collection efforts to maintain healthy cash flow
- Coordinate with the bookkeeper to review, approve, and ensure timely payment of accounts payable
- Provide operational insight to resolve billing discrepancies, pricing questions, or customer disputes
- Maintain awareness of cash flow impacts related to production schedules, material purchases, and labor planning
- Track key performance indicators and report financial and operational performance to ownership
Customer & Supplier Relations
- Act as a primary point of contact for key customers
- Address and resolve customer issues related to delivery, quality, or technical concerns
- Work with vendors to source materials, tooling, and outside services
- Support sales and estimating with technical and operational insight
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure adherence to FMG quality standards and customer specifications
- Maintain inspection, documentation, and corrective action processes
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective action when quality issues occur
- Continuous Improvement & Strategy
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, flow, and efficiency
- Implement practical continuous improvement initiatives
- Assist ownership with strategic planning, staffing, and equipment decisions
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in a machining or manufacturing environment
- 3+ years in a leadership or management role within a job shop or similar operation
- Strong understanding of CNC machining, materials, tolerances, and shop workflows
- Experience with job costing, estimating, and production scheduling
- Proven ability to lead teams and manage performance
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience as a General Manager, Operations Manager, or Plant Manager
- Background as a machinist, programmer, or manufacturing engineer
- Experience in a high-mix, low-volume job shop environment
- Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems
- Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience
Working Conditions
- Full-time, on-site position
- Office and shop-floor environment
- Occasional extended hours may be required to support production needs
Why This Role Matters at FMG
This role is critical to the stability and growth of FMG. The General Manager is responsible for ensuring the shop runs efficiently, employees are supported, and customers receive high-quality parts on schedule. Success in this role directly impacts company profitability, reputation, and long-term sustainability.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
