Description

The Opportunity

Freedom Finishing is a leader in powder coating and e-coating for automotive and manufacturing customers who demand reliability, consistency, and on-time performance. We are building a high-performance, execution-focused culture and are looking for a General Manager who can learn the current operation deeply, earn trust, and then drive meaningful improvement with speed and tact.

This role is hands-on and strategic -- ideal for a leader who can set vision, roll up their sleeves, and personally see initiatives through to completion.

Critical Outcomes

• Develop and execute the company's 1- and 3-year plans
• Ensure the company operates profitably, efficiently, and safely
• Deliver 10%+ annual sales growth
• Ensure the company responds quickly and effectively to new sales opportunities
• Drive timely, well-executed operational and organizational improvements

Key Competencies

• Ability to learn existing processes quickly, understand what is working, and identify where change is required
• Strong tact and emotional intelligence-able to push for improvement without alienating or offending current employees
• Visionary thinker who can see what needs to be done, prioritize it, and execute
• A true starter and finisher-personally drives projects from concept through completion rather than delegating and disengaging
• Comfortable being hands-on in operations, especially in maximizing throughput and efficiency of powder coating lines
• High sense of urgency balanced with sound judgment
• Personable, collaborative, and able to build credibility across all levels of the organization
• Acts with integrity and treats others with decency and respect

Key Responsibilities

• Learn Freedom's current operations, workflows, and culture before implementing change
• Set clear expectations and hold leaders accountable while maintaining trust and respect
• Serve as the EOS Integrator, running effective L-10 meetings and driving execution
• Actively manage production priorities, capacity, and constraints to maximize output and performance
• Identify, lead, and personally drive high-impact improvement initiatives
• Ensure rapid response to customer needs and new sales opportunities
• Lead and support the sales effort, including major projects and key accounts
• Ensure Freedom Finishing maintains required ISO certifications and complies with all environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Ensure quality, environmental, and business objectives are clearly understood and executed throughout the organization
• Interface with Acme Finishing, Freedom's corporate parent, on a weekly basis to ensure alignment on key objectives

Experience & Capabilities

• Ideally, operational leadership experience in a business that applied coatings (either an OEM or a custom applicator)
• Master's degree or equivalent experience
• 4–10+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing or industrial operations
• Proven record of driving growth and operational improvement
• Comfortable working in the business-not just on the business
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Culture Fit

Freedom Finishing exists to:

• Win
• Grow
• Wow our customers
• Provide employees opportunities to achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals

We reward leaders who combine vision, execution, humility, and urgency to move the company forward.

Why This Role Is Different

This is not a "sit in the office and delegate" General Manager role. It is for a leader who:

• Learns first
• Acts decisively
• Leads with respect
• Executes relentlessly

If you can see yourself in this position, in addition to applying please take a few minutes to complete our Culture Index Survey, which is a tool we use to assist in the hiring process:  

Click here to view a video from Freedom's parent company, Acme Finishing. 

Requirements

See above