Job Summary
The Production Manager is responsible for ensuring that the company’s Furniture & Decor segment delivers quality products to our household & business
Minimum Qualification:Bachelor
Experience Level:Senior level
Experience Length:9 years
Job Description
A bit about the role:
The Production Manager is responsible for ensuring that the company’s Furniture & Decor department delivers quality products to our household and business clients. S/he is responsible for managing all back-of-house activities related but not limited to setting up and maintaining technical processes for the production team, managing our production facility, working with our procurement team to ensure our production facility is well stocked, and upskilling a pool of high quality professionals. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Lynk Workshop (production facility), the Production Manager sets the strategy for how our production facility operates and also informs the production process for distributed furniture jobs (those delivered by workers outside of our production facility). As the technical and strategic lead for furniture production at Lynk, the Production Manager holds the vision behind our incubation program that trains, upskills and graduates carpenters, upholsterers and metalworks into a distributed model. As such s/he is also responsible for setting standards and approaches for recruitment, vetting, training, and structuring the graduation process.
A bit about you:
You are an experienced carpenter with relevant experience managing a workshop / production facility. You’re passionate about working with local artisans and are able to transfer your knowledge of craftsmanship, workshop management and production to upcoming entrepreneurs. No challenge is too big -- you dream big and have an appetite for growth. You’ve worked in dynamic environments and have the ability to adapt, pivot, and creatively stretch resources. You are firm, fair and have a get-it-done approach to how you work, train and strategize.
Specific Responsibilities:
Production Strategy
Providing guidance and inputs on the growth and development of Furniture production at Lynk
Developing KPIs for the department and ensuring that they are delivered
Constantly developing, improving and revising Furniture production processes in adherence to the Lynk’s growth plans
Production & Workshop Management
Establishing and revising SOPs / best practices for back of house operations
Manage the production team (workshop supervisor and technical trainer) to ensure that all production processes are adhered to (e.g. technical drawings, photography, health and safety measures) and ensure the workshop is full stocked and inventory is regularly managed and maintained
Identifying methods to increase and maximize worker productivity e.g. KANBAN system and adherence to other production guidelines
Ensuring all furniture produced is quality reviewed and controlled through oversight and guidance
Collaborate with the procurement team to identify high-quality suppliers for wood, harvard foam, materials etc, and provide strategy guidance on improvements in supply chain
Managing Lynk’s design and engineering team to ascertain that all items are accurately specified in accordance to technical standard conventions
Pro Development & Growth Management
Co-develop on-the-job training methodologies to upskill Furniture Pros through our incubation program including establishing benchmarks for workers to transition into distributed workers
Deliver and oversee technical trainings delivered
Regularly assess worker performance against our incubation curriculum
Establish incentive structures to increase worker productivity and performance
Core- Collaboration:
The Production Manager will work closely with the Furniture Business Manager who is responsible for identifying and managing high-value clients and businesses and informing how furniture items are listed on Lynk’s catalogue, in addition to steering and guiding the strategy for Lynk’s Furniture customer service team. The Business Manager will be a thought partner that supports and collaborates with you on production strategy and provides guidance and inputs on how to align sales and growth activities with production processes and management.
Successful candidates will have all or most of these qualification
Accreditation from NITA in carpentry and joinery
7 years + experience in furniture making and joinery
Prior experience managing a workshop or in production facilities management
Ability to identify problems and implement preventative strategies to minimize risk
Demonstrated ability to manage a large team
Extreme attention to detail
Great communication
Experience in the Kenyan furniture market or an emerging market
