Furniture Design/Production Supervisor - Kampala, Uganda

Furniture Design/Production Supervisor - Kampala, Uganda

BrighterMonday Consulting

Today

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New

Outside Kenya

Full Time

Confidential

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Job summary

The Technical Supervisor oversees the end-to-end local fabrication and outsourced production of custom-made furniture. Because the company utilizes a 100% contract manufacturing model, this role does not directly manage an internal workshop

Min Qualification

Diploma

Experience Level

Mid level

Experience Length

4 years

Language Requirement

English

Work Type

Full Time

Working Hours

8 to 5

Applicant Location

Kenya

Job descriptions & requirements

IncumbentTBA

Reports toProcurement Manager

MemberMid-Level Specialist

Career Profile

The Technical Supervisor oversees the end-to-end local fabrication and outsourced production of custom-made furniture. Because the company utilizes a 100% contract manufacturing model, this role does not directly manage an internal workshop. Instead, the supervisor is responsible for translating custom design concepts into technical production packages, vetting and selecting local third-party suppliers, and conducting rigorous quality assurance (QA) at vendor sites. The goal is ensuring all custom pieces are delivered on time, within budget, and to exact technical specifications.

Professional Qualifications

• Higher Diploma or bachelor’s degree in Wood Technology, Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering (Fabrication option), Industrial Fine Art (Furniture Design/Production), or a deeply technical manufacturing equivalent.

• 4–6 years of technical quality control, contract manufacturing management, or senior workshop supervision within the East African furniture ecosystem. Proven experience dealing with Kenyan and Ugandan suppliers is a distinct advantage.

• Technical Testing Equipment Proficiency (Mandatory):

a. Pin/Pinless Wood Moisture Meters: Expert ability to test and reject timber with moisture levels outside the acceptable 10%–12% threshold for East African environments.

b. Digital Calipers & Micrometers: Accurate measurement of metal gauges, board thicknesses, and edge-banding alignments against technical drawings.

c. Coating Thickness Gauges: Testing paint, lacquer, and powder-coating thickness and adhesion levels.

d. Lux Meters / Surface Comparators: Evaluating finish uniformity, color matching, and surface defects under standardized lighting.

Direct Reports

• None

Role Purpose

• Technical Design & Pre-Production

• Review and validate design concepts, 3D models, and aesthetic sketches for manufacturing feasibility.

• Convert creative designs into comprehensive technical production packages, including detailed AutoCAD/SolidWorks shop drawings, Bill of Materials (BOM), and hardware specifications.

• Standardize technical drawings to ensure local suppliers have unambiguous blueprints that minimize errors during fabrication.

• Supplier Sourcing & Contract Manufacturing Management

• Identify, vet, and onboard capable local furniture manufacturers, carpenters, upholsterers, and metal fabricators.

• Assess vendor capacity, machinery quality, craftsmanship standards, and financial reliability.

• Negotiate production timelines, unit costs, and quality SLAs (Service Level Agreements) with third-party workshops.

• Allocate production jobs to the most suitable suppliers based on their specific technical strengths (e.g., solid wood expert vs. metal framer).

• Production Supervision & Quality Assurance

• Serve as the primary technical contact for all external manufacturing partners, resolving shop-floor queries in real time.

• Conduct regular on-site inspections at local supplier workshops during critical stages of fabrication (e.g., framing, joinery, finishing, upholstery).

• Enforce strict quality control standards to ensure third-party outputs match approved prototypes and technical drawings.