What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Manager position at Bucher Hydraulics?
Company Overview
Bucher Hydraulics is a leading international provider of innovative hydraulic drive and control technologies for mobile and industrial applications. Our mission is to be a world-leading supplier of electric and hydraulic solutions, delivering sustainable products and outstanding customer value to our customers and partners worldwide.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead all production operations and performance for the facility. This role is responsible for ensuring safe operations, delivering high-quality products on time, and continuously improving manufacturing processes. The Plant Manager will work closely with supervisors and cross-functional teams to strengthen operational execution, improve productivity, and develop future leaders. This position is ideal for a manufacturing leader who enjoys solving operational challenges, building structure and accountability, and driving continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage daily production operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality output.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing principles to drive productivity, improve O.E.E., and reduce waste.
- Maintain and improve a clean, safe, and organized work environment, adhering to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.
- Monitor departmental performance and collaborate with supervisors to identify improvement opportunities and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure alignment across departments such as Production, Materials, Shipping/Receiving, Service (RMA), and Production Control to meet customer demand and on-time delivery goals.
- Oversee operational budgeting, labor planning, and cost control within the scope of production operations.
- Provide input to support workflow optimization and future capacity planning in partnership with Engineering.
- Hire, train, mentor, and lead direct reports with a strong focus on performance management, timely evaluations, and clear, measurable annual goals.
- Hold team members accountable to performance expectations while actively developing future leaders and strengthening bench talent across the production organization.
- Identify opportunities for improvement within the department’s process.
- Attend training sessions to continue professional growth and development
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
- 5–7 years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably with machining operations
- Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Quality Management Systems
- Proficiency with quality and process improvement tools, including Lean, Six Sigma, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
- Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, and hands-on problem-solving capabilities
- Effective verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization
- Proven ability to manage projects, maintain an organized and proactive schedule, prioritize competing demands, and drive accountability within cross-functional teams
Application Question(s):
- Why are you interested in this Plant Manager role, and what are you looking for in your next organization?
- Describe the manufacturing operation you most recently led. Include: Industry,
Number of employees, Number of shifts, Your direct reports, What you were personally accountable for?
- Describe one improvement initiative you led that significantly improved productivity, quality, or cost.