About GPM
GPM, Inc. (GPM) is a privately held company that has been serving industrial customers since 1978. With more than 80 employees, GPM combines the strength and capabilities of an established industrial company with the personal, hands-on culture of a close-knit organization.
Based in Duluth, Minnesota, GPM manufactures its own line of slurry pumps and represents leading industrial equipment manufacturers. Our products and services support customers in the mining, utility, refining, energy, and other industrial markets.
GPM also provides repair and service capabilities for the products we manufacture and represent.
The Opportunity
GPM is looking for a hands-on, experienced manufacturing leader to lead our manufacturing operation and help take the business to its next level.
The Director of Manufacturing will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of our manufacturing operations, including fabrication, machining, assembly, testing, shipping, and related activities. This person will work closely with our experienced team to make sure we are operating safely, meeting customer commitments, producing quality products, and continually improving how we work.
This is a visible leadership role. We are looking for someone who enjoys being on the floor, talking with employees, working with supervisors, solving problems, and making things happen. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between the production floor and the leadership team and will understand that strong manufacturing results start with strong people and good processes.
The Director will work closely with Engineering, Planning, Purchasing, Quality, Service, Sales, and company leadership to ensure our manufacturing operation has the people, materials, equipment, and processes needed to support our customers and our business.
This is an excellent opportunity for a manufacturing leader who wants to have a meaningful impact on a growing, privately held company without the layers and bureaucracy of a large corporation.
What You’ll Do
Lead the Manufacturing Operation
- Provide day-to-day leadership for GPM’s manufacturing operations.
- Lead and support supervisors and manufacturing employees.
- Ensure production is completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and to GPM’s quality standards.
- Keep a close eye on production schedules, staffing, capacity, materials, equipment, and customer commitments.
- Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor understanding what is happening and helping remove obstacles.
- Identify problems early and work with the team to develop practical solutions.
- Establish clear expectations for safety, quality, productivity, and accountability.
- Help the operation prepare for future growth by planning for people, equipment, space, and capacity.
Develop People and Build a Strong Team
- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and other manufacturing leaders.
- Build a culture where employees take pride in their work and take ownership of results.
- Develop the skills and capabilities of the manufacturing team.
- Help identify and develop future leaders.
- Work with Human Resources on hiring, employee development, performance management, and employee relations.
- Foster a workplace built on respect, teamwork, accountability, and good communication.
Safety and Quality
- Make safety a daily priority throughout the manufacturing operation.
- Ensure employees follow company safety policies and applicable OSHA requirements.
- Address safety concerns quickly and promote a proactive approach to identifying and reducing risks.
- Partner with Quality to maintain high standards and resolve quality issues.
- Help build a culture where employees are encouraged to identify problems and improve the way work is done.
Improve How We Work
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, cost, and delivery.
- Introduce practical Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement practices where they make sense for GPM.
- Improve processes, workflow, and communication between departments.
- Reduce waste, rework, downtime, and other unnecessary costs.
- Establish and monitor meaningful manufacturing measures such as safety, quality, on-time delivery, productivity, labor efficiency, and schedule performance.
- Encourage employees at all levels to contribute ideas for improving the operation.
Business and Financial Leadership
- Participate in annual budgeting and operational planning.
- Monitor labor costs, productivity, and manufacturing expenses.
- Help determine equipment and capital investment needs.
- Balance customer needs with available people, equipment, and resources.
- Work with company leadership to support profitable growth and long-term success.
Work Across the Company
- Partner with Planning and Scheduling to meet customer commitments.
- Work with Engineering to improve manufacturability and production processes.
- Partner with Purchasing and Supply Chain to ensure materials are available when needed.
- Work with Quality to address problems and improve product reliability.
- Coordinate with Sales and Service regarding customer priorities and delivery requirements.
- Keep company leadership informed about manufacturing performance, challenges, and opportunities.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for a practical, people-focused manufacturing leader who knows how to run a shop and develop a team.
The ideal candidate will have:
- 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, with significant leadership responsibility.
- Experience leading supervisors, managers, and/or multiple manufacturing functions.
- Experience in industrial manufacturing, preferably involving machining, fabrication, assembly, testing, or similar operations.
- A demonstrated ability to improve safety, quality, productivity, and delivery.
- Experience managing staffing, labor costs, production schedules, and manufacturing performance.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, 5S, or similar approaches.
- Strong communication and employee leadership skills.
- The ability to build trust and credibility with employees at all levels.
- Experience working with ERP or other manufacturing systems.
- Basic financial and business understanding, including budgeting and labor/productivity management.
- A willingness to be visible and engaged on the manufacturing floor.
A bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, engineering, operations, business, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent manufacturing experience and leadership success will be considered.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone with sound judgment, integrity, accountability, and a genuine interest in people and manufacturing.
What Success Looks Like
During the first year, the successful candidate will:
- Build strong relationships with employees and manufacturing leaders.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability.
- Improve communication and coordination across manufacturing and other departments.
- Strengthen safety and quality performance.
- Improve production flow, schedule performance, and productivity.
- Identify opportunities for investment in people, equipment, and processes.
- Develop the next level of manufacturing leadership.
- Establish a culture of continuous improvement and ownership.
- Become a trusted member of the GPM leadership team.
Why Join GPM?
GPM offers the opportunity to make a real difference in a privately held, established Minnesota company where leadership is close to the operation and decisions can be made quickly.
You won’t be one of hundreds of leaders in a large corporation. You’ll know the people you work with, see the results of your decisions, and have the opportunity to directly influence the future of the business.
For the right leader, this is an opportunity to lead a talented manufacturing team, improve a respected operation, and become an important part of GPM’s future.
Pay: $110,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
