Skilled Trades Leader
W.L. Gore & Associates
USD 100k-130k / year + Equity
About the Role
We are seeking a Skilled Trades Leader to join our team. This role provides strategic leadership for the skilled trades function, ensuring alignment with the needs of our internal customers and overall plant objectives. The position is critical to advancing equipment reliability, strengthening team capability, and driving operational excellence through effective systems, accountability, and continuous improvement.
This role is located on site at our facility in Elkton, Maryland.
Pay and Benefits:
- $100,000 - $130,000 per year
- Factors considered in extending an offer within this pay range include (but not limited to) education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Medical, Dental and Vision benefits effective on Day 1 of employment! We offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive benefits. More details are available at www.gore.com/careers/benefits
Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and direction for the skilled trades function, ensuring the team is aligned, capable, and consistently delivering safe, high-quality results.
- Set clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable to safety, reliability, quality, and workmanship standards.
- Establish and monitor key performance metrics; drive timely corrective actions when targets are not met.
- Ensure maintenance strategies and execution support equipment reliability, uptime, and long-term asset health.
- Enable effective planning, prioritization, and execution of maintenance work through strong processes.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by leading disciplined, data-driven problem solving using lean principles and ensuring root causes are addressed.
- Develop team capability through coaching, performance and development, and talent planning.
- Ensure adherence to quality standards and compliance with the Quality Management System, reinforcing consistent and reliable processes.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or supply chain and a minimum of 3 years operational or technical leadership within a manufacturing facility OR a minimum of 5 years operational or technical leadership experience in lieu of a degree
- Experience working within a formal quality management system, including documentation, audits, corrective actions, change control, and adherence to standard work
- Experience leading structured problem-solving efforts, driving improvements to reliability and uptime in Manufacturing while utilizing lean manufacturing principles
- Demonstrated experience leading others, coaching, and developing people while holding teams accountable in a fair, consistent, and inclusive manner
- Working knowledge of skilled trades to provide adequate level of support to the team and plant
- Demonstrated commitment to building an inclusive, respectful, and high-engagement work environment where diverse perspectives are valued and people feel safe, heard, and accountable
- Ability to communicate clearly, actively listen, and influence outcomes while fostering trust and collaboration in a shop environment
- Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with our customers like Manufacturing Leadership, Facilities, Engineering, Quality, and EHS to achieve shared operational goals
- Demonstrated ability to use data such as KPIs, work order data, or downtime metrics to drive decisions and improve performance
- Ability to travel less than 5%
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced working knowledge of skilled trades with demonstrated experience coaching others in hands on scenarios across disciplines
- Advanced working knowledge of preventive maintenance programs, asset reliability concepts, and lifecycle planning
- Working knowledge of building systems such as HVAC, electrical distribution, compressed air, water, or waste systems in a manufacturing environment
- Experience supporting capital projects, shutdowns, or major repairs, including contractor coordination and production impact planning
This position requires access to export-controlled areas and information. Candidates must be "U.S. persons" as that term is defined in 8 USC §1324b(a)(3). The term "U.S. persons" includes US citizens, resident aliens ("green-card" holders) as well as certain refugees, asylum-holders and residents qualifying for temporary residence under the terms of 8 USC §1255a.
What We Offer
Our success is based on the capability and creativity of our Associates, and we are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive total rewards program that supports your everyday and helps you build your tomorrow.
We provide benefits that offer choice and flexibility and promote overall well-being. And in keeping with our belief that every Associate should share in the collective success of the enterprise; we provide a distinctive Associate Stock Ownership Plan in each country as well as potential opportunities for “profit-sharing”. Learn more at gore.com/careers/benefits
Gore is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, status as a qualified individual with a disability, genetic information, pregnancy status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, status as a protected veteran, gender identity and expression, and any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.
Gore is committed to a drug-free workplace. All employment is contingent upon successful completion of drug and background screening. Gore will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, e.g., arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws.
Gore requires all applicants to be eligible to work within the United States. Gore generally will not sponsor visas unless otherwise noted on the position description.
About Gore
For over 65 years, Gore has improved lives through discovery, product innovation and rewarding careers for Associates. We push the boundaries of what's possible — not just through our products and technologies but also through individual growth and development.
We believe in the strength of a diverse and inclusive workplace. With diverse perspectives, ideas and experiences, we uncover new possibilities and make a greater impact in the world. Our Associates build on a rich history of innovation, upholding Gore’s values and supporting an inclusive work environment where we treat each other and our external partners with fairness, dignity and respect.