Corporate Functional Manager, Forging in Spring Grove, Illinois at Scot Forge

Lead Forging Excellence. Drive Transformation. Shape the Future.

At Scot Forge, we manufacture high-performance forged components for some of the world's most demanding industries. With more than 130 years of success, $600M+ in revenue, and 100% employee ownership, we offer more than a job, we offer the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

We're hiring a Corporate Functional Manager, Forging to provide enterprise-wide leadership for forging operations across our manufacturing facilities. This highly visible role is responsible for developing forging strategy, driving operational excellence, standardizing best practices, and building organizational capability across the company. The role combines the strategic responsibilities of our Corporate Functional Manager structure with technical leadership for all forging operations, from forge engineering and process control through production execution and continuous improvement.

You'll partner closely with Plant Managers, Engineering, Metallurgy, Quality, Maintenance, Sales, and Operations leaders to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and capacity while ensuring forging processes remain technically sound, scalable, and aligned with customer requirements.

This role supports operations in Spring Grove, IL, Franklin Park, IL, and Clinton, WI and may be based at any of these locations. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Why This Role

This is a unique opportunity to influence manufacturing performance across an entire enterprise.

We're seeking a transformational leader who can elevate forging operations through standardized processes, disciplined execution, technical excellence, and talent development. Success in this role requires someone who can build alignment across multiple facilities, challenge the status quo, and lead meaningful operational change while maintaining strong credibility on the shop floor.

The ideal candidate has experience in heavy manufacturing, preferably within the forging, steel, metals, foundry, or other industrial manufacturing sectors, and understands the operational realities of large-scale manufacturing environments.

What You'll Own

• Enterprise-wide forging strategy, standards, performance, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Safety, quality, delivery, productivity, capacity, and cost performance across all forging operations
• Development of forging leadership, technical talent, succession plans, training systems, and workforce capability
• Standardization of forging processes, work instructions, process controls, and operating practices across all facilities
• Capital planning, equipment modernization, automation initiatives, and capacity expansion efforts

What You'll Do

• Lead forging operations across multiple facilities, partnering with plant leadership to improve safety, quality, throughput, capacity, and overall manufacturing performance
• Drive transformational change through standardized processes, operational excellence initiatives, lean manufacturing principles, and data-driven continuous improvement
• Develop leaders and technical talent through coaching, mentoring, training, and succession planning programs
• Collaborate with Metallurgy, Forge Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Operations teams to solve complex manufacturing challenges and meet demanding customer requirements
• Lead capital improvement efforts involving forging equipment upgrades, automation, process enhancements, and capacity expansion projects
• Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for forging processes, metal forming technologies, tooling, materials behavior, and operational best practices

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of forging, metal forming, or related manufacturing experience, including leadership of operations, technical teams, or multi-site initiatives
• Strong preference for experience in heavy manufacturing environments such as forging, steel, metals, foundry, aerospace, defense, or other industrial manufacturing operations
• Deep knowledge of forging processes, metal flow, tooling, materials behavior, process control, and manufacturing best practices
• Proven success leading transformational change, continuous improvement, and operational performance initiatives across multiple locations
• Strong understanding of the interaction between forging operations, metallurgy, heat treatment, quality systems, and customer requirements
• Strong business acumen with the ability to influence results, develop talent, and build credibility with plant leadership
• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship and able to pass a pre-employment drug screening

Why Scot Forge

• 100% employee-owned industry leader in forged and engineered metal products
• Opportunity to influence forging operations across three manufacturing facilities
• High-visibility leadership role with significant impact on operational performance and future growth
• Ability to drive transformational change in Scot Forge's core manufacturing process
• Strong commitment to safety, technical excellence, and employee development
• Stable, growing organization with a long-term ownership mindset
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're a forging leader who thrives in heavy manufacturing environments, enjoys developing people, and has a track record of driving transformational change, we'd like to connect.

Compensation

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Life Insurance, Disability, 401(k) with company match, Profit Sharing, ESOP, FSA/HSA programs, paid time off, vacation, and paid holidays.

Scot Forge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and inclusion and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.