Upholstery Manager

Position Summary

The Upholstery Manager leads day-to-day operations across sewing and upholstery. This role owns the department's output, quality, and safety, and is directly responsible for scheduling work, developing the team, and ensuring the department consistently delivers covers and upholstered components that meet spec and support the broader production schedule. This is a hands-on leadership role: the manager will be on the floor daily, working alongside the team, troubleshooting issues in real time, and setting the standard for craftsmanship and consistency.

Key Responsibilities

- Production & Scheduling

Plan and sequence daily and weekly work across cutting, sewing, and upholstery stations to meet production targets and downstream assembly needs.

- Coordinate with the production scheduling function to prioritize orders, manage capacity, and flag constraints before they cause delays.

- Monitor throughput and adjust staffing or workflow to hit output goals.

- Quality & Craftsmanship

Set and enforce quality standards for cutting accuracy, stitching, seam strength, padding, and finished upholstery.

- Conduct in-process and final inspections, address defects at the source, and reduce rework and scrap.

- Maintain consistent fit, tension, and finish across operators and shifts.

- Materials & Inventory

Oversee usage and yield of fabric, vinyl, foam, and other upholstery materials to control waste and cost.

- Coordinate with purchasing on material quality issues, lead times, and stock levels. Manage cutting layouts and pattern efficiency to maximize material utilization.

- Team Leadership & Development

Directly supervise upholstery department staff including sewers, cutters, and upholsterers.

- Hire, train, and develop team members, including cross-training to build a flexible, capable workforce.

- Conduct performance reviews, coach on technique and productivity, and address performance issues promptly and fairly. Build a pipeline of promotable talent within the department.

- Safety & Compliance

Own safety performance in the upholstery department, including machine guarding on sewing and cutting equipment, ergonomics, and safe handling of pneumatic staplers and hand tools.

- Lead safety training and toolbox talks specific to sewing and upholstery hazards. Investigate incidents and near-misses and implement corrective actions.

- Ensure compliance with OSHA and other applicable regulations.

- Equipment & Facilities

Oversee maintenance and proper operation of shop equipment, including industrial sewing machines, cutting tables, staplers, and related tooling.

- Coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance to minimize downtime. Identify and recommend capital equipment needs.

- Cross-Functional Coordination

Work closely with Metal, Woodworking, and Assembly leads to ensure covers and upholstered components arrive on time and to spec for downstream production.

- Report on department KPIs (output, quality, safety, cost) to operations leadership.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of experience supervising or managing a sewing, upholstery, or soft goods production environment
• Strong hands-on knowledge of industrial sewing, cutting, and upholstery techniques
• Proven ability to read and work from patterns, cut lists, and specifications
• Demonstrated success leading and developing a production team, including hiring, coaching, and performance management
• Working knowledge of OSHA safety standards relevant to sewing and upholstery operations
• Experience with production scheduling and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with other department leads
• Basic proficiency with production tracking tools (Excel or similar) for scheduling and reporting

Preferred

• Experience in furniture, automotive, marine, or similar soft goods/upholstery manufacturing
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement practices
• Experience with material yield optimization and cutting layout software

Physical Requirements

Ability to work on a manufacturing floor, including standing for extended periods, lifting up to 50
lbs , and working around industrial sewing and cutting equipment. Must be comfortable wearing required PPE for the full shift.

About Gratz Pilates

Gratz Pilates is a manufacturer of Pilates equipment, building apparatus used by studios and practitioners worldwide. Our Upholstery department is central to that work, producing the sewn covers, pads, and upholstered surfaces that go into every piece of equipment we make.