Manufacturing Leadership Development Program

About the Role

Guardian Glass is seeking participants for a full-time Manufacturing Leadership Development Program at our Richburg manufacturing facility. This structured opportunity is designed to build a pipeline of future technical and operational leaders through plant rotations, hands-on improvement work, mentoring, and progressive supervisory experience. You will develop broad knowledge of glass manufacturing while building the judgment and leadership capability needed to create long-term value for Guardian and society.

The Richburg team operates an integrated manufacturing facility with major process areas spanning the hot end, cold end, and coating operations. Program participants will work across these areas with support from a designated senior-leader mentor and experienced operations and engineering partners. The program is intended to complement existing engineering opportunities while giving participants a broader path toward technical leadership or manufacturing management.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete structured rotations across the plant's major operating areas, with assignments generally lasting three to six months in each area.
• Build technical knowledge through hands-on projects focused on continuous improvement, process innovation, reliability, quality, safety, supply chain and value creation.
• Meet regularly with a designated senior-leader mentor to review progress, development priorities, and future assignments.
• Develop supervisory capability through progressive floor-leadership assignments after completing the initial plant rotations.
• Partner with operators, engineers, supervisors, and leaders to understand plant processes, identify opportunities, and implement sustainable improvements.
• Prepare for permanent technical leadership, process engineering, or manufacturing management assignment based on business needs, demonstrated contribution, and comparative advantage.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering technology, or another technical discipline completed by the program start date (May 2027).
• Desire to work in an industrial manufacturing environment and complete assignments across multiple plant operating areas.
• Willing and able to work a schedule that supports plant operations and developmental supervisory assignments, which may include off-shift hours.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Qualifications

• Internship, co-op, project, military, or work experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, or technical leadership.
• Experience applying continuous improvement, data analysis, problem-solving, or process optimization methods.