Director of Production - Specialty Manufacturing Company (Oakland, CA)
About the Company
We are a design-led manufacturing studio delivering precision cabinetry and millwork for design-minded homeowners and architects. We combine rigorous engineering, advanced fabrication, and elevated aesthetics to produce thoughtful, systematized interior solutions at scale.
Now in our seventh year, the company has built a highly capable production operation, an experienced team, and a strong project pipeline. We are preparing for our next phase of growth — including facility expansion and increased production volume — and are seeking a Director of Production to take full ownership of manufacturing operations and help lead the company through its next chapter.
The Role
The Director of Production is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing all manufacturing and production operations. This is not a design role and not a shop-foreman position. It is a manufacturing leadership role for someone who understands how to run complex, high-precision production environments and can step in quickly to own day-to-day execution.
The Director of Production will work closely with company leadership to ensure the production operation runs smoothly, predictably, and at a high standard of quality — freeing leadership to focus on growth, strategy, and future expansion.
This role is ideal for someone who has led physical production environments, understands automation and workflow, and brings strong operational instincts grounded in real-world manufacturing experience.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Own and lead all production operations, from planning and scheduling through fabrication, quality control, and delivery
Provide steady, hands-on leadership to the production team, ensuring clarity, accountability, and consistency
Oversee shop workflow, capacity planning, labor allocation, and machine utilization
Maintain high standards for quality, safety, cleanliness, and professionalism across the production floor
Partner closely with engineering and design to ensure projects are production-ready and executed efficiently
Manage procurement, inventory, and vendor relationships to support reliable throughput
Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks before they impact schedule or quality
Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on efficiency, reliability, and scalability
Support leadership in preparing the organization for future growth, including additional facilities and increased volume
Represent the company with professionalism and confidence in internal and external interactions
What Success Looks Like
In the first 60–90 days:
You have taken ownership of day-to-day production operations
The production team looks to you as their primary leader
Leadership can step away from daily production concerns with confidence
The shop is understood, stable, and running cleanly
Over the first year:
Production operations scale smoothly alongside company growth
Systems, workflows, and leadership structures mature without disrupting craft or culture
The company is well-positioned to support expanded facilities and higher volume
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for a manufacturing leader — not necessarily a career cabinetmaker — who understands how to run complex, design-driven production environments.
You may come from cabinetry or millwork, but you may also come from other high-precision manufacturing contexts such as furniture production, architectural fabrication, modular or prefab construction, or specialty manufacturing.
You bring:
10+ years of experience leading manufacturing or production operations
Proven ability to run and improve physical production environments
Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, scheduling, and capacity planning
Comfort working with automated equipment and production systems
A sharp eye for quality, precision, and craft
Calm, confident decision-making under pressure
Clear, direct communication with both technical and non-technical teams
A hands-on leadership style grounded in real-world experience
Experience with cabinetry or millwork is valuable, but manufacturing fluency and operational judgment are essential.
Why This Role
You’re stepping into a well-built operation, not a startup in chaos
The production team is experienced and capable — this role is about leadership, not rebuilding from scratch
You’ll play a central role in shaping how the company scales over the next several years
Leadership is thoughtful, design-literate, and deeply invested in doing things well
This role has a clear path to expanded responsibility as the company grows
