Design Department Manager
Norstar Industries Ltd.
Morris, MB | Full-Time

Norstar Industries Ltd. is a family-owned manufacturer of grain handling equipment and industrial material handling solutions. Based just outside Rosenort, Manitoba, we design and manufacture innovative products that serve customers across North America and beyond.

We're looking for an experienced Design Department Manager to lead our drafting and design team while driving high-quality engineering support for our growing manufacturing operation.

If you're an experienced design leader who enjoys developing people, improving processes, and delivering quality products from concept through production, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

As Design Department Manager, you'll work closely with the Director of Design to oversee projects, support your team, and maintain design excellence across the department.

Your responsibilities include:

• Lead and supervise the drafting and design team
• Assign projects and manage team workload based on priorities
• Develop project schedules, milestones, and timelines
• Monitor project progress and provide regular status updates
• Coach, mentor, and support team members' professional development
• Conduct annual performance reviews
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new team members
• Facilitate communication between Design, Sales, Production, and Leadership
• Establish and maintain design standards, documentation, and quality processes
• Review designs to ensure accuracy, manufacturability, and compliance with company standards
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the department

What We're Looking For

• Previous experience leading or supervising a design or drafting team
• Experience using Autodesk Inventor and 3D CAD software (AutoCAD alone is not sufficient)
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and design for manufacturing
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Mechanical Technology education is considered an asset
• Experience with grain handling equipment is a strong asset
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

What Success Looks Like

• Built a motivated, accountable, and collaborative design team that consistently delivers high-quality work.
• Established clear project priorities, timelines, and tracking systems that keep projects moving on schedule.
• Improved communication between Design, Sales, Production, and Leadership, resulting in smoother project execution.
• Ensured all drawings and documentation meet Norstar's quality, manufacturability, and documentation standards.
• Provided coaching and technical guidance that helps team members develop their skills and confidence.
• Identified opportunities to improve design processes, reduce inefficiencies, and support continuous improvement across the department.
• Earned the trust of your team and leadership by delivering projects on time while maintaining a high standard of quality.

Why Join Norstar?

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Stable, family-owned company with long-term career opportunities
• Collaborative leadership team
• Opportunity to mentor and develop a growing design department
• Innovative manufacturing environment serving customers across North America

At Norstar, we're proud to build products that help feed the world. We believe exceptional products start with exceptional people, and we're committed to creating an environment where our employees can grow, contribute, and succeed together.

Apply today and become part of the Norstar team.