Production Manager
Company Overview
St. Charles Closets has been a leading custom closet and cabinetry company since 1984, known for exceptional craftsmanship, premium service, and customer satisfaction.
We design, manufacture, and install high-end custom closets, garages, pantries, home offices, mudrooms, entertainment centers, and built-in cabinetry that transform how people live in their homes.
As we continue to grow, we are seeking an experienced, highly organized, and hands-on Production Manager to oversee our production operations and help ensure every project moves efficiently from approved design through manufacturing and installation.
Position Overview
The Production Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day production workflow, scheduling, quality control, materials, inventory, and coordination between our design, production, and installation teams.
This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who understands how to keep multiple custom projects moving simultaneously while maintaining high standards for quality, accuracy, efficiency, and on-time completion.
The ideal candidate is a strong problem solver who can anticipate production issues before they become problems, hold team members accountable, improve processes, and create an organized and efficient production environment.
Key Responsibilities: Production Management & Scheduling
- Manage the daily production schedule and workflow for custom closet and cabinetry projects
- Review upcoming jobs and establish production priorities based on installation dates and project requirements
- Ensure projects are manufactured accurately, efficiently, and on schedule
- Coordinate production timelines with designers, project coordinators, and installation teams
- Identify scheduling conflicts, material shortages, design issues, and other potential delays before they impact installation
- Maintain visibility into the status of every project currently in production
- Adjust schedules and resources as necessary to meet deadlines
- Ensure completed projects are properly staged and ready for installation
Team Leadership & Accountability
- Lead, supervise, and develop production team members
- Assign daily responsibilities and establish clear expectations
- Monitor employee productivity, workmanship, attendance, and performance
- Train employees on production procedures, equipment, quality standards, and safety requirements
- Create a culture of accountability, organization, teamwork, and continuous improvement
- Conduct regular production meetings to review priorities, challenges, and upcoming workload
- Work closely with management to identify staffing and training needs
Quality Control
- Establish and maintain high standards for product quality and craftsmanship
- Inspect completed components and projects before they leave the production facility
- Verify dimensions, materials, finishes, hardware, quantities, and project specifications
- Ensure production matches approved designs and work orders
- Identify recurring quality issues and implement corrective processes
- Reduce remakes, missing parts, installation callbacks, and avoidable production errors
- Ensure installers receive complete, accurate, and properly prepared projects
Materials & Inventory Management
- Monitor inventory levels for sheet goods, hardware, accessories, and production supplies
- Ensure materials required for upcoming projects are ordered and available before production begins
- Maintain an organized inventory and material storage system
- Coordinate purchasing and material requirements with vendors and management
- Minimize material waste and unnecessary purchasing
- Track shortages, damaged materials, and backordered items that could affect project schedules
- Help maintain accurate inventory records
Process Improvement & Efficiency
- Evaluate current production processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency
- Develop and maintain standardized production procedures and workflows
- Improve communication between design, production, scheduling, and installation
- Monitor production capacity and identify bottlenecks
- Reduce downtime, rework, waste, and preventable errors
- Develop systems that allow the production operation to scale as the company grows
- Recommend equipment, technology, workflow, or process improvements when appropriate
Installation Coordination
- Coordinate closely with the installation team to ensure projects are ready for scheduled installation dates
- Confirm all materials, hardware, accessories, and custom components are complete before projects leave the facility
- Respond quickly to field issues involving missing, damaged, or incorrectly manufactured components
- Prioritize remakes and service items to minimize customer inconvenience
- Use installer feedback to identify and correct recurring production issues
Equipment, Facility & Safety
- Help ensure production equipment is properly maintained and operating safely
- Coordinate preventative maintenance and repairs when necessary
- Maintain a clean, organized, professional, and safe production environment
- Ensure employees follow company safety procedures and proper equipment operating practices
- Identify opportunities to improve shop organization, material flow, and workspace efficiency
Performance Expectations
Success in this position will be measured by the Production Manager's ability to consistently improve:
- On-time production completion
- Installation readiness
- Product quality and accuracy
- Production efficiency and throughput
- Labor productivity
- Material utilization and waste reduction
- Inventory accuracy
- Remake and error rates
- Installation callbacks related to production
- Team performance and accountability
Qualifications Required
- Experience in production, manufacturing, cabinetry, woodworking, construction, or a related field
- Previous supervisory or management experience
- Strong scheduling, organizational, and project management skills
- Ability to manage multiple custom projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Strong leadership and team-management skills
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Ability to read and understand drawings, measurements, specifications, and work orders
- Comfortable working in both an office and active production/shop environment
- Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn production and business management software
Preferred
- Experience in custom closets, cabinetry, millwork, woodworking, furniture manufacturing, or architectural casework
- Experience managing CNC-based cabinetry or panel-processing production
- Knowledge of cabinet construction methods, hardware, materials, and manufacturing processes
- Experience with production scheduling and inventory management
- Experience implementing lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or standardized production processes
- Familiarity with woodworking and cabinetry equipment
- Experience working with custom, made-to-order projects rather than repetitive mass production
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who takes ownership of production.
You should be the type of person who notices a potential problem before it reaches the customer, keeps the shop organized, understands what needs to be produced next, and makes sure the team has the information and materials necessary to get the job done correctly.
You should be comfortable holding people accountable while also developing and supporting your team.
Most importantly, you should take pride in delivering a high-quality finished product accurately, efficiently, and on time.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-based bonus opportunities
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
- Growth opportunities within an expanding company
Why Join St. Charles Closets?
- Join an established company with more than 40 years of experience
- Be part of a growing premium custom cabinetry and storage brand
- Take ownership of a critical part of our operation
- Have a direct impact on quality, efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction
- Work with a team committed to craftsmanship and continuous improvement
- Help build the systems and processes that support our next stage of growth
- Opportunity for advancement as the company continues to expand
Apply Today
If you're an experienced production leader who takes pride in building an organized, efficient operation and delivering exceptional quality, we'd like to hear from you.
Join St. Charles Closets and help us continue building one of Chicagoland's premier custom storage and cabinetry companies.
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: St. Charles, IL
Schedule: Monday–Friday, with occasional Saturdays as needed
Pay: $83,200.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
