General Supervisor - General Tooling
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite – Kohler, WI
Opportunity
The General Supervisor – Tooling & Machining provides leadership and strategic oversight for machining and tooling operations across Kohler facilities, ensuring the consistent delivery of high‑quality fabrication and machining services in support of production, engineering, and corporate operations. This role is responsible for driving machining best practices, labor and material optimization, budget and capital planning, and safe work execution while developing high‑performing teams. The position oversees machinists, CNC programmers, and maintenance planning resources; partners closely with production, engineering, maintenance, purchasing, and external tooling suppliers; and ensures tooling performance, equipment utilization, and operational uptime align with business objectives.
Responsibilities
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Supervises and coordinates the activities of the Machining & Tooling Departments front line associates in providing fabrication and machining services for the development or repair of prototypes, spare parts and production tooling used throughout the Kohler plant and some off-site locations.
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Supervises the activities of CAD/ NC Programmers who are responsible for developing and downloading 3D computer generated programs to machining areas.
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Maintains a close relationship with production, maintenance and engineering supervision in developing, troubleshooting and improving prototype tooling, production tooling and manufactured parts performance.
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Manages and supports strategic tooling relationships with suppliers and vendors under guidelines provided by Kohler Co. Purchasing and Global Procurement Groups.
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Supervises the activities of the Maintenance Planner who is responsible for developing job plans, planning, and scheduling for the Machine Shop.
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Enforces the proper observance of Company policies, safety regulations and good housekeeping in his areas of responsibility.
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Maximizes the value of tooling services by maintaining close control of approved expense plans and capital expenditure plans as well as directs their preparation and provides recommendations to higher authority.
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Attends production downtime meetings and offers input as to tooling, patterns, and component problems.
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Provide adequate job follow-up to quality and time measurement constraints.
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Estimate manpower requirements and assign qualified personnel to perform functions.
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Initiates action and recommends approval for merit increases, transfers, leave of absence and other personnel changes.
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Recommends where appropriate; improvements modifications and procedures within area of his/her supervision.
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Assumes responsibility to recommend additional training where required to up-grade technical skills.
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Review performance of ANE and FNEX against goals and suggest improvements to ensure a fully coordinated effort.
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Define roles and responsibilities for team members in undefined processes, when new processes are created or unique instances occur.
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Other duties as assigned by Kohler leadership.
Skills/Requirements
- Associate's degree is preferred with a minimum of four (4) years of training in tooling related trades or equivalent experience.
- Bachelors Degree and management training beneficial.
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3 years of supervisory experience with a minimum of six years practical tooling experience.
- Strong background in the design and industrial application of tooling and close tolerance repair components.
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Excellent team facilitation skills. Build teams in a collaborative work style; previous successful experience in team building and motivating others.
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Strategic business acumen and deployment; taking creative action in solving problems while exhibiting judgment and a strategic systematic approach to decision-making.
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Ability to communicate effectively with others and establish credibility.
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Ability to overcome obstacles using positive facilitation, teamwork, and influence through building and maintaining relationships.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period. The salary range for this position is $85,400 - $130,300. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
