Assistant Plant Manager

The Assistant Plant Manager (APM) is a key operational leader responsible for driving daily production performance, workforce engagement, safety compliance, quality standards, and operational efficiency. The APM serves as the primary floor leader for the production team, providing direction to supervisors, team leads, and hourly employees while ensuring plant objectives are achieved. This role acts as the designated backup to the Plant Manager and must demonstrate strong leadership, operational agility, and financial awareness in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Work Schedule

• This is a salaried exempt position and requires flexibility to support business needs outside of standard working hours.
• Occasional early morning, evening, weekend, or off-shift support may be required to ensure operational success, employee engagement, and customer service requirements are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure occupational health and safety compliance for all employees, contractors, and visitors, adhering to corporate policies and applicable legislative requirements.
• Maintain environmental compliance by working within corporate and regulatory guidelines and ensuring the facility meets all environmental standards.
• Collaborate with the maintenance team to oversee machine operability, equipment reliability, and preventative maintenance activities.
• Serve as the primary production floor leader, providing daily direction, coaching, and support to supervisors, team leads, and hourly employees.
• Lead daily production meetings, communicate operational priorities, and ensure execution of production plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement throughout the production organization.
• Provide effective leadership and direction to frontline managers, identifying training and development opportunities to strengthen team performance.
• Ensure compliance with all operational procedures, work instructions, safety standards, and company policies.
• Manage workforce planning to ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill coverage to meet production demands.
• Partner closely with the Office Manager to ensure payroll accuracy, inventory integrity, production reporting compliance, and administrative process adherence.
• Monitor and drive performance against key operational metrics including safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost.
• Ensure production processes run efficiently and effectively within budgetary constraints while identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with the Plant Manager to drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
• Support inventory control processes and ensure operational compliance with inventory management standards.
• Act as the designated backup for the Plant Manager, assuming leadership responsibilities during absences and ensuring continuity of operations.
• Demonstrate understanding of plant financial performance, including budget management, cost controls, and P&L drivers, to support sound operational decision-making.
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities and business conditions, demonstrating strong organizational and operational agility in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing, production, distribution, or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated success leading supervisors, team leads, and hourly workforces.
• Strong track record of driving accountability and performance within a management team.
• Experience managing production operations, workforce planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of safety, quality, environmental, and operational compliance programs.
• Understanding of budget management, cost control measures, and plant financial performance metrics.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and effectively adjust priorities to meet business needs.

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to train people and motivate a team
• Have good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office products, especially Excel
• Demonstrated solid decision making
• Ability to provide new ideas- "think outside the box"
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary

What We Offer:

• Competitive Pay & Annual Bonus Structure
• Benefits Day 1!
• Paid Time Off plus Holiday Observances
• 401K w/Company match
• FREE company-paid vision, short-term disability, and life insurance!
• FREE company-provided PPE & safety equipment
• Tuition reimbursement, parental leave, childcare assistance, profit sharing, and MORE!