Assistant Plant Manager – Manufacturing & Coating Operations

Assistant Plant Manager – Manufacturing & Coating Operations

Lead the Floor. Drive Quality. Develop People.

ColorCoat, Inc. | Van Buren / Fort Smith, Arkansas

Reports To: Plant Manager
Position Type: Full-Time | On-Site

Salary: $65,000 - $70,000

Where Hands-On Leadership Meets Manufacturing Excellence

Are you a manufacturing leader who understands what it takes to keep production moving, maintain exceptional quality, and develop a strong team?

At ColorCoat, Inc., we specialize in premium coating services for window and door manufacturers. We're looking for an Assistant Plant Manager who thrives in a fast-paced production environment and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves.

Our ideal candidate brings experience in industrial painting, coating applications, surface preparation, or finishing operations, along with the leadership skills to manage people, improve processes, and deliver results.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference on the production floor while developing the skills to advance into plant management.

What You'll Do

Production Leadership & Coating Operations

• Assist the Plant Manager in overseeing daily manufacturing operations, production schedules, staffing, and workflow.
• Direct and support production employees to meet daily production goals, quality standards, and customer delivery commitments.
• Monitor painting and coating processes, surface preparation, application techniques, curing, and finished-product quality.
• Support consistent coating quality by identifying application defects, troubleshooting production issues, and implementing corrective actions.
• Monitor production efficiency, labor utilization, material consumption, and equipment performance.
• Coordinate with maintenance personnel to minimize equipment downtime and production interruptions.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, and use of coatings, chemicals, materials, and production equipment.
• Assist with inventory control, material availability, and coordination between production, quality, and shipping.
• Identify opportunities to improve production flow, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.

Team Leadership & Employee Development

• Provide daily directions, coaching, and support to production employees.
• Assist with staffing assignments, scheduling, attendance management, and cross-training.
• Develop employees' technical skills, productivity, and understanding of quality expectations.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and clear communication throughout the facility.
• Support employee performance evaluations, training initiatives, and corrective action processes in coordination with the Plant Manager and Human Resources.
• Assume delegated operational leadership responsibilities in the Plant Manager's absence.

Quality, Safety & Continuous Improvement

• Promote consistent coating applications, surface finish, and product quality standards.
• Identify root causes of quality defects, rework, and material waste.
• Support standard operating procedures, process improvements, and quality control initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies, PPE requirements, chemical handling procedures, and applicable workplace safety regulations.
• Participate in safety meetings, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective action follow-up.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe production environment.

Operational Reporting & Administrative Support

• Maintain accurate daily production, labor, quality, and operational records.
• Review employee timecards, attendance, and scheduling information as assigned.
• Assist with production reporting, inventory tracking, and purchasing coordination.
• Utilize company business systems to support accurate operational data and communication.
• Collaborate with Corporate HR, Payroll, Accounting, Safety, and Operations as needed.

What We're Looking For

Preferred Experience & Qualifications

• 3 years of manufacturing or production experience, preferably in a supervisory or leadership capacity.
• Industrial painting, coating, powder coating, liquid coating, or finishing experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with HVLP spray equipment, coating application processes, surface preparation, and curing systems preferred.
• Experience identifying and correcting coating defects, improving application consistency, and minimizing rework.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, production scheduling, quality control, and employee supervision.
• Ability to troubleshoot production challenges and make sound operational decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, motivate, and develop production employees.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable using computers, Microsoft Office, and production reporting systems.
• Experience with UKG HRIS, payroll, or workforce management software preferred.
• Experience with NetSuite ERP preferred.
• Ability to work effectively across production, quality, maintenance, and administrative departments.

What Will Set You Apart?

We're especially interested in candidates who have experience with:

• Industrial liquid painting or powder coating operations.
• HVLP spray application and coating equipment.
• Paint booths, curing ovens, and production finishing lines.
• Coating quality inspection, adhesion, finish consistency, and defect prevention.
• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and waste reduction.
• Developing production teams and improving employee performance.
• Supporting manufacturing operations in a growing or expanding facility.

Grow With ColorCoat

This Assistant Plant Manager position is designed as a leadership development opportunity, with the potential to advance into greater operational responsibility.

You'll work alongside the Plant Manager and Operations leadership to strengthen production performance, develop employees, and support the continued growth of our Van Buren facility.

We're looking for someone who understands that great manufacturing leadership isn't just about meeting production numbers. It's about building a team that consistently delivers quality, safety, and results.

If you know your way around a paint booth, understand manufacturing operations, and have the leadership skills to bring out the best in a production team, we want to hear from you!

Apply today and grow your career with ColorCoat, Inc.

ColorCoat, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Experience

• 3 year(s): Required Experience: 3 years of manufacturing or production experience. 1–2 years of supervisory or team leadership experience. Experience with production scheduling, quality control, employee training, and daily plant operations. Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot production issues and improve operational efficiency. Preferred Experience: Industrial painting, liquid coating, powder coating, or manufacturing finishing operations. Experience with HVLP spray systems, paint booths, surfac

Equal Opportunity Employer
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