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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Schedule: Full-time, on-site, second shift | Compensation: Approximately $60,000 - 65,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications

Overview

Our client is a top-tier automotive supplier producing high-quality plastic-molded components and painted assemblies for major vehicle manufacturers, combining advanced molding, finishing, and highly automated paint-line capabilities in a high-volume, unionized production environment. The company is seeking a Production Supervisor to lead second-shift paint operations, overseeing one Team Leader and approximately 25 employees responsible for loading, unloading, line support, inventory control, material handling, and quality auditing. This hands-on floor leadership role is central to maintaining safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee engagement on the plant floor.

What you'll do

• Provide visible, hands-on leadership for second-shift paint operations, ensuring safe and efficient execution of the production schedule.
• Lead, coach, and hold accountable one Team Leader and approximately 25 production employees across loading, unloading, line support, inventory, material handling, and quality functions.
• Assign labor and resources to meet daily production requirements, respond to staffing or equipment constraints, and maintain continuity throughout the shift.
• Monitor paint-line performance, output, quality, scrap, rework, downtime, and material usage, taking timely corrective action when targets are not met.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with plant procedures, personal protective equipment requirements, chemical-handling standards, and applicable environmental and safety regulations.
• Maintain consistent product appearance and coating quality by partnering with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Production teams to resolve defects and process variation.
• Support troubleshooting of the automated paint line, robotics, conveyors, sensors, controls, and related equipment, escalating technical issues to minimize downtime.
• Ensure paint, components, packaging, and production materials are staged, tracked, and controlled accurately to support uninterrupted operations.
• Conduct shift start-up meetings, communicate priorities and performance expectations, and provide effective handover to the next shift and plant leadership.
• Train and develop employees, reinforce standardized work, address performance concerns, and administer workplace policies consistently within a unionized environment.
• Complete production reports, attendance records, quality documentation, and other required shift records accurately and on time.
• Drive continuous improvement through Lean manufacturing, 5S, root-cause problem solving, and practical improvements to safety, quality, flow, and productivity.

Required qualifications

• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, with responsibility for production employees and shift performance.
• Strong floor leadership skills with the ability to organize people, set clear expectations, resolve issues, and maintain accountability in a fast-paced operation.
• Working knowledge of production metrics, quality controls, scrap reduction, downtime management, labor planning, and continuous-improvement methods.
• Strong communication, coaching, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work the full second shift schedule, Monday through Friday, approximately 2:20 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and be present before shift start and after shift end as operational needs require.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Preferred qualifications

• Automotive manufacturing experience is strongly preferred; experience with plastic injection molding, blow molding, painted plastic components, or similar production processes is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of industrial painting, coatings, surface preparation, curing, finishing, or paint-quality requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in a unionized manufacturing facility, including familiarity with collective bargaining agreements, work rules, attendance, and progressive discipline, is preferred.
• Exposure to highly automated manufacturing lines, robotics, PLC-controlled equipment, conveyors, sensors, and production automation is desirable.
• An associate degree, technical qualification, or relevant leadership training is beneficial.

Compensation and benefits

• Approximately $60,000 - 65,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Straight-time overtime compensation applies after 45 hours worked.
• Benefits begin on day one.
• 401(k) with a 6% employer match.
• Three weeks of annual vacation from date of hire.
• 14 paid holidays.
• Strong career progression.

Why this role

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity in a high-volume, automated paint operation, offering day-one benefits, a 401(k) with a 6% employer match, and strong career progression within an established automotive manufacturing environment.