Job Description

Plant Manager

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Plant Manager to lead overall manufacturing operations and drive plant performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and employee engagement. This role is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant day-to-day operations while fostering a high-performance culture built on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

The Plant Manager will provide strong floor leadership, oversee all manufacturing activities, develop frontline leaders, optimize operational processes, and partner cross-functionally to achieve business objectives. Success in this role requires a visible leadership presence, strong operational discipline, and the ability to drive results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visible leadership on the manufacturing floor, establishing clear expectations for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
• Lead and coordinate daily manufacturing operations including production planning, scheduling, maintenance, shipping, receiving, and quality assurance.
• Promote and sustain a proactive safety culture while ensuring compliance with all environmental, health, and safety regulations and company standards.
• Review and adjust production schedules and labor plans daily to meet customer commitments while optimizing labor efficiency and operational costs.
• Identify, prioritize, and resolve operational barriers impacting throughput, quality, and delivery performance.
• Develop, coach, and evaluate supervisors, group leaders, and key team members, including performance management and corrective actions when necessary.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles such as 5S, standard work, waste reduction, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Monitor, analyze, and act on key plant KPIs including safety incidents, scrap, rework, labor efficiency, downtime, and on-time delivery performance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Continuous Improvement teams to improve processes and strengthen workforce engagement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, empowerment, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment with direct responsibility for production teams.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking ability preferred.
• Experience with hardwood production, species identification, quality control, and defect analysis in hardwood processing preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams on the shop floor and drive execution against safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles including 5S, standard work, root cause analysis, and corrective action processes.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Ability to analyze operational data and KPIs to identify trends, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Self-motivated and capable of managing changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Attributes

• Strong floor presence with a hands-on leadership style.
• Results-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Ability to build and maintain a positive, accountable, and engaged workplace culture.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement savings plan
• Career growth and development opportunities