Manufacturing Manager

Manufacturing Manager

Job Type: Non-exempt, Part-time / Full-time

Location: Onsite in Fort Wayne, IN, with potential travel to Auburn, IN

Compensation: $26.00 – $32.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Hours: 30-40 hours per week with overtime and weekends as needed

About VeroTouch Science

VeroTouch Science is transforming the materials that build the world. We are an industrial chemical and materials R&D and manufacturing startup, developing and producing specialty chemical systems from the ground up with a relentless focus on real-world performance.

We are focused on concrete admixtures, material additives, coatings, and specialty chemical systems, developing products in-house, taking them through production, and building the infrastructure to scale them. We own the science.

VeroTouch Science is early-stage, hands-on, and execution-driven. The people who thrive here take ownership, maintain high standards, and care deeply about outcomes.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Technician is an onsite role based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with potential travel to Auburn, Indiana, working directly with the VeroTouch operations team on the mixing, production, and distribution of specialty materials and chemical systems. It's a physical, hands-on position requiring the operation of trucks, trailers, forklifts, heavy equipment, power tools, and plumbing and purification systems. The role demands attention to detail, procedural discipline, a strong safety mindset, and the ability to keep accurate digital records. 

This is a ground-floor leadership opportunity. The right individual will help build the manufacturing facilities' systems and standards from the ground up, working directly with senior technical staff, with a clear path for advancement, including the potential for equity after one year of service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Manufacturing Operations and Management

• Set up, run, and continuously improve the manufacturing process for specialty chemical systems, including batching, mixing, and production workflows.
• Own the daily operation of the manufacturing facility, including scheduling, staffing coordination, and prioritization of production workloads.
• Establish and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for production and recurring processes.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safety-compliant manufacturing environment in accordance with company and OSHA standards.
• Manage facility supply inventory, including raw materials and consumables, and coordinate reordering with the operations lead.

Technician Supervision 

• Directly supervise Manufacturing Technicians, including daily task assignment and prioritization of mixing, testing, and distribution work.
• Train technicians on mixing procedures, SOPs, equipment operation, and documentation standards, and confirm competency before sign-off on independent work.
• Review technician work, including production logs and inventory records, for accuracy and consistency, and provide direct feedback.

Quality Control

• Run quality control checks on batches during production, using test equipment to check density, appearance, consistency, and similar specs.
• Train and direct technicians on the same quality control checks; confirm out-of-spec results are flagged and documented for follow-up.
• Keep accurate quality control records tied to each batch for traceability.

Data, Records, and Administration

• Keep accurate digital production data, batch records, inventory levels, and administrative logs for the facility.
• Maintain traceable documentation connecting raw materials, batches, and QC results.
• Handle facility-related administrative tasks, such as vendor coordination, receiving documentation, and basic cost/accounting recordkeeping to support the operations and accounting teams.

Equipment and Facility

• Maintain and troubleshoot production equipment on a defined schedule, keeping accurate maintenance records.
• Coordinate equipment repairs and vendor service visits as needed.
• Confirm technicians are cleaning, inspecting, and organizing equipment and workspaces between production runs.

Safety and Compliance

• Maintain working familiarity with SDS documentation for all materials handled.
• Enforce PPE requirements and safe handling practices for all technicians in active work areas.
• Lead safety briefings and toolbox talks for the technician team.
• Serve as the immediate point of escalation for unsafe conditions, incidents, or near-misses, and report up to the operations lead.

Qualifications

Required

• Hands-on experience in a manufacturing, industrial materials, or production environment (for example: steel, materials, chemicals, or similar industrial production), with a track record of running or supervising a production process. 
• Proven experience directly supervising or training a team on a shop or production floor.
• Strong decision-making and accountability skills, comfortable directing others' work and owning outcomes.
• Clear communicator, able to set expectations and give direct, actionable feedback.
• Reliable and self-motivated, with the ability to manage competing priorities across a team.
• Comfortable keeping accurate digital data, production records, and basic administrative/accounting documentation.
• Willingness to work extended hours and travel as needed at company expense.

Preferred (Not Required)

Background in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related technical field (a degree is a plus, not a requirement).

• Experience with concrete, cement, admixtures, coatings, or related construction materials.
• Comfort working with technical data and production records.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply; Spanish-language communication skills are a meaningful plus given our operational environments and technician team.

Professional Development and Advancement

This position is designed to grow with the right person. You will help shape the manufacturing facilities' systems and standards from an early stage, working directly with senior technical staff and gaining exposure to the full arc of specialty materials development, from raw formulation through commercial-scale production.

VeroTouch is an early-stage company with a strong trajectory.  Manufacturing Managers who demonstrate commitment, capability, and reliability will have a direct path to expanded responsibilities and advancement within the organization. Equity participation is available after one year of continuous service for qualifying team members.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Ability to work in an active manufacturing and production environment for a full shift, including alongside technicians on the floor.
• Ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, and operate production equipment for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to 50 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work in environments involving chemical exposure, requiring consistent PPE use.

Compensation and Benefits

• $26 to $32 per hour, commensurate with experience

• 30-40 hours per week with overtime and weekends as needed

• All required travel covered at company expense

• On-the-job training in advanced testing and formulation techniques

• Equity eligibility after one year of service

• Performance-based advancement opportunities

VeroTouch is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and complying with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This job description outlines the primary duties and requirements of the role but does not limit the employee to those duties. It does not create an employment contract. If a candidate with a disability requires accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Felix Heeter at [email protected].

Certain responsibilities are considered essential functions of the position, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform them. This document describes the minimum requirements for the role and does not create an employment contract. Employment with the company is at-will, meaning either the employee or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.

Nota en Español

VeroTouch Science es un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. Buscamos un Gerente de Fabricación para nuestra operación en el área de Fort Wayne, con posible viaje a Auburn, Indiana. Las responsabilidades incluyen la gestión diaria de la producción, supervisión de procesos de fabricación y control de calidad, calibración de equipos, apoyo a proyectos de investigación y desarrollo, y la capacitación y supervisión de técnicos. El puesto ofrece entre $26 y $32 por hora, 30-40 horas semanales con posibilidad de horas extra, y potencial de participación en la empresa después de un año. Se proporcionará capacitación completa. Los candidatos bilingües son bienvenidos.