Production Manager

Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, GATX Corporation (NYSE: GATX) is an industry leader with 125+ years of success—success that is powered by our people. We are proud of our high-performance culture, hard-working and enthusiastic management team, and beautiful office space in the Willis Tower.

At GATX, we hire the best and offer our employees a dynamic, energetic, collaborative environment to enable them to make an impact from day one. Enjoy the perks and benefits of a global company with the close-knit culture and community of a much smaller one. In the same way we strive to empower our customers to propel the world forward, we are dedicated to providing our people with the tools and resources they need to move forward in their careers.

POSITION PURPOSE:

Reporting to the Service Center Manager, the Production Manager directs railcar production for the Service Center. Ensures a safe working environment in which employees perform high quality work in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. Directs and mentors frontline supervisors to lead skilled labor employees to meet or exceed key performance indicators: safety, quality, production, and cost. This individual is also expected to look at production through the lens of continuous improvement, always looking for ways to maximize production efficiency.

• Competitive salaries and growth opportunities
• Eligible for annual 12.5% target bonus based on company and personal performance
• Retirement plans with company contributions up to 9% of salary
• Fringe Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance) at no cost to the employee
• Generous paid time off
• Great working environment, with a strong focus on an employee-centered company culture

Responsibilities:

KEY ACTIVITIES:

1. Manages the supervisors over the union workforce in the repair and servicing of the GATX fleet and foreign cars in accordance with established quality control, engineering, safety, and customer standards while complying with established repair schedules. Adapts workforce and schedules to accommodate emergency repair situations.
2. Provides clear, proactive leadership to direct reports to create and foster a sense of urgency that embraces positive change.
3. Develops, articulates, and installs clear performance goals and measures and provides timely feedback.
4. Oversees training and development to ensure team has the requisite skills to achieve company goals.
5. Develops new and more efficient repair methods; reviews repair patterns and recommends changes in design or manufacturing to assure longer car life. Solves difficult and complex repair problems.
6. Ensures that workforce is managed so that measured categories meet or exceed budgeted goals and standards, i.e., costs, labor hours, delays, cross-over, etc. May schedule cars into the facility and strategically locates cars to ensure more efficient production.
7. Ensures the appropriate applications of quality standards, safety rules as well as other plant work rules as defined by the company. Completes required documentation.

Qualifications:

SCOPE OF WORK:

This position will interact with all employees including upper management, safety, human resources, quality, maintenance and corporate representatives, customers, and vendors. The impact of this position on the business is very important as it ensures that daily safety, quality, production, environmental, and cost goals are achieved. The person in this position will have a high level of interaction with union employees throughout the daily schedule. The decisions made by the person filling this position are of a highly technical nature in the mid-range of complexity and independent judgment as relates to railcar repair/maintenance. This position’s primary functions are conducted in accordance with established policy and principles. This position supervises both union and salaried employees.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED (including certifications):

• High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor’s degree in Business or Management or completion of a course of study at an accredited Vocational Technical Institution in a related technical field combined with industry knowledge preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in fast-paced production environment with preferably a minimum of 4 years supervisory experience in a union environment.
• Functional knowledge of modern manufacturing/operations techniques such as “lean manufacturing”, Kaizen, Six Sigma, etc.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as IO instructions, FM instructions, work orders, AAR Field Manual.

KEY COMPETENCIES (non-technical behavioral skills, i.e. presentation, negotiation, customer service skills), in priority order:

• Ability to develop and mentor others
• Ability to develop and foster a respectful and inclusive work environment
• Results Driven
• Problem-Solving
• Team Building
• Technical Expertise
• Organizational Impact
• Customer Focus
• Effective interpersonal and communications skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels of the organization
• Computer Skills

OTHER (i.e., physical requirements, travel, etc. that is not covered above):

• Physical ability to inspect car repair activities.
• Intermittent travel (less than 5%)

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

GATX embraces diversity, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.