Careers
Learn about our unique corporate culture, company benefits, view our current open positions and apply for a career at J.W. Speaker today!
Available Positions
J.W. Speaker is committed to continually evolving to meet the needs of our customers, just as we’ve done for the past 80 years. Today, we manufacture HID (High Intensity Discharge), LED (Light Emitting Diodes) and Halogen lighting technologies.
We are looking for individuals who want to work in a team environment and are interested in helping us grow into the lighting technology of tomorrow. We offer a fast-paced environment where learning is ingrained in our culture and takes place daily.
Benefits
J.W. Speaker is happy to offer a variety of benefits to our employees:
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
With a generous company-match, you can begin contributing to this plan upon your hire, thereby building that valuable nest-egg for the future.
Associate Referral Program
We reward our associates with cash for referring their friends and family to work at J.W. Speaker! Who do YOU know looking for a great opportunity?
Casual Work Environment
No stuffy dress codes here! We wear jeans to work, dressing casually (yet appropriately) for our relaxed professional environment.
Company-Wide Events
Whether it’s volunteering in our community, participating in our charity chili cook-off, or challenging their co-workers in our annual summer bean bag tournament, our associates know how to get involved and have fun!
Continuous Learning
In addition to our tuition reimbursement, we support certification programs, apprenticeships, professional memberships and affiliations, and continuous learning opportunities at all levels. However, you don’t have to leave our company to learn something new… Our associates are involved in book clubs, “lunch and learns,” Lean Manufacturing, leadership training, and much more!
Employee Assistance Plan
Sometimes, professional assistance is needed for life’s challenges, including face to face counseling at convenient area locations, access to a 24 hour crisis hotline, and many other areas of support. This benefit is 100% employer paid.
Insurance
Medical, Dental, Short/Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance are available for eligible associates and their families.
On-Site Wellness Coach
Your well-being is important! We provide support and encouragement to our associates on their paths to optimum health. Additionally, we have on-site massages available for our associates wanting to take a stress-free break before or after their shift.
Profit Sharing
We believe in sharing our success with those who have helped to create it! This annual cash payout – based on company performance and goal achievement – has been rewarding our eligible associates for over 20 years!
Time Off
We offer vacation benefits to both our hourly and salaried associates, along with 11 paid holidays and sick/personal time for eligible associates.
Tuition Reimbursement
We invest in our associates by providing tuition reimbursement to those enrolled in qualifying programs.
World Class Facility
Work in a state-of-the-art environment with the latest in technology. Climate controlled, natural lighting, and beautiful, modern surroundings are just a few aspects worth bragging about here.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a short list of our most frequently asked HR questions. For more information about J.W. Speaker, or if you need support, please reach us at hr@jwspeaker.com.
Q: Do you post all of your open positions on the website?
A: Yes! If we have an open position, we will post it on our website. The only exception to this is jobs we plan to fill with internal candidates.
Q: I have seen this job opening on your website for quite some time… What gives?
A: We are very fortunate at J.W. Speaker to be a growing company! As a result, we have several teams who are expanding due to growth and workload, and are looking to fill new positions within their group. That’s why you might see some positions posted more often than others.
Q: Do I have to apply online?
A: Yes, we only accept online applications today. This way, we can store your application/resume electronically, which is both efficient and environmentally friendly.
Q: I applied online…Now what?
A: Our Human Resources team reviews online applications and resumes several times a week. If you could be a fit for one of our open positions, we will email you to set up either a phone interview or an in-person interview.
Q: What’s the interview process like?
A: It depends on the position. Most of the time, we start with a short phone conversation. After that, there is an in-person interview with the hiring manager and a member of HR.
Sometimes, there may be a second in-person interview where candidates meet potential teammates, additional leaders in our organization, and go on a company tour. We try and make this process as convenient as possible!
Q: How soon will you make a decision after I interview?
A: While we are always eager to fill our openings, finding the right fit for both of us is much more important than filling the position quickly. Oftentimes, we have multiple candidates to interview for our openings, and busy schedules sometime make this process take a few weeks. We will always try to share the expected timeline with you when you have your interview.
Q: If I am not selected for the job I applied to, will I still be considered for other positions?
A: Absolutely! We will keep your application/resume on file for 12 months. You may, however, apply for additional jobs online if you see something that interests you.
Q: Do you hire interns?
A: We sure do! The majority of our interns are engineering students in either Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial/Manufacturing engineering programs. We participate in several on- campus career fairs every year, as well as on-campus recruiting.
Most of our interns work year-round and attend schools in the Milwaukee area, although some are “summer-only” internships. These openings are typically posted on your school’s job board.
Q: What’s it like to work at J.W. Speaker?
A: We are a very fast-paced environment with a constant focus on continuous improvement. This means that we are always moving forward, trying to be better than we were the day before. Our associates are passionate about their careers, they love to learn, and their entrepreneurial spirit is contagious!
Q: I am a recruiter – can I help fill your position?
A: Thanks for your interest in helping us fill our openings. While we do use 3rd party recruiters from time to time, we have established partnerships with our current staffing providers and are not looking to add any new ones at this time.
Note: This only provides highlights of the company’s benefit programs. For more detailed information on the programs listed, please refer to the Associate Handbook. Nothing contained in this information creates an expressed or implied contract regarding employment or any benefit associated with employment. In the event of any conflict between this information and the plan document, the provisions of the plan document will govern. The Company reserves the rights to change or discontinue these plans at any time, including the right to increase or decrease the costs of the plans to participants. All provisions listed above are subject to applicable state regulations. For further information about these benefits, please contact the Human Resource Department.