Plant Manager

Knauf Insulation North America is the world's fastest-growing insulation manufacturer. We are wholly committed to the conservation of the environment while also sustainably developing and manufacturing a comprehensive line of acoustical fiberglass insulation for residential, commercial, industrial, marine, OEM and metal building applications, using post-consumer recycled materials.

We welcome passionate and creative individuals who thrive in an entrepreneurial, collaborative and ever-changing environment.

We know how important your health, wellbeing, and financial strength is to you. To support you, we provide affordable benefits for you and your family members.

"Supporting all aspects of the individual — self, health, wealth and community”

Our benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision – starting on day one!
• Virtual Medical Services
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (earn 100% matching on your first 6% and fully vested day one)
• Paid parental leave
• Company paid life insurance
• Vacation time to enjoy getting away
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Plus, more!
  
  

Growth opportunities available!

Apply online or contact us to hear why our employees appreciate being part of the Knauf family!

About the Role:

As a Plant Manager in our Albion location, you will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the manufacturing operation, which is a continuous manufacturing operation with approximately 225 total employees. Your primary focus will be on ensuring safety, fostering employee engagement, maintaining high-quality standards, and driving operational efficiency. In this pivotal role, you will champion operational excellence while enabling a culture of servant leadership, innovation, and accountability. You will play a key role in achieving strategic business objectives by implementing and sustaining world-class manufacturing practices.

Responsibilities

Leadership , People and Culture

• Lead s manufacturing facility, with a primary focus on employee safety.
• Communicate s company values, strategies, and objectives , leading by example.
• Foster s a culture of inclusion, innovation, and accountability, ensuring all employees feel empowered to contribute positively.
• Drive s employee engagement and retention through effective communication, recognition, and development programs.
• Select s , train s , develop s , and empowers high-performing teams, ensuring succession planning and leadership development.
• Mentor s and coaches employees to enhance their skills and career growth .
• Engage s workforce on plant and company initiatives and solicit s continuous feedback, having a presence with associates in all positions.
• Strengthen s and enhance s current culture to position the company as a top employer.
• Attracts, assesses, and develops high-performing managerial talent with leadership potential by implementing effective recruitment best practices a nd selection processes, and tailoring coaching approaches to prepare managers for roles with greater responsibility and toalign with organizational goals.
• Works with internal partners such as marketing and HR to ensure that the company brand and reputation in the local community is consistent with the company purpose, values, and objectives .
• Closely partners with key stakeholders to ensure collaboration and forward-thinking.
  
  

Health, Safety and Environmental

• Ensure s the safety of all employees by establishing and maintaining a proactive safety culture as the top priority.
• Lead s initiatives to improve safety metrics and reduce incidents through behavioral-based safety programs.
• Oversee s the implementation and enforcement of health and safety policies, procedures, and regulations to maintain a safe working environment.
• Conduct s regular audits, risk assessments, and training programs to minimize workplace hazards and ensure compliance with local and corporate safety standards.
  
  

Operational Excellence

• Achieve s and sustain s high levels of operational performance, including OEE and output volume.
• Prepare s and manage s budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Identif ies and execute s cost-saving opportunities, achieving measurable financial benefits.
• Present s operational reports and recommendations to senior management to drive informed decision-making.
• Maintain s plant property and equipment to ensure compliance with governmental regulations and to ensure effective and economical operations.
• Ensure s compliance of all plant operations with company policy and federal, state, and local regulations.
  
  

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

• Develop s and implement s strategic plans to optimize plant operations, leveraging Lean Six Sigma (LSS), continuous improvement methodologies, and world-class manufacturing practices.
• Champions a culture of continuous improvement through employee engagement, training and recognition programs.
• Develop s professional networks , participates in professional societies , and stays current with industry best practices.
  
  

Business Acumen: Understands the business and makes decisions to navigate it successfully. H as the potential to grow knowledge and expertise .

• Market Analysis - Understands market trends and competitive dynamics.
• Strategic Thinking - Navigates complex business environments and creates strategies to reach company goals.  Envisions future scenarios and makes decisions that align with the company’s overall objectives .  Prioritizes and adapts to meet goals and execute strategic action plans.
• Problem-Solving - Develops practical solutions to solve problems . Handles unexpected or challenging situations in an effective way . Determines the source of an issue and comes to a viable solution. 
• Analytical Thinking - Gathers, collects, and analyzes data and forms connections and makes decisions.  Sees problems or scenarios from different perspectives. 
• Leadership - Guides team, making pivotal decisions, and fostering a productive work environment.  Inspires and motivates employees, improves team performance, and ensures alignment with the company’s vision , values , and goals .  Leads change by creating plans, managing resistance, and communicating the need for change.
• Effective Communication - Articulates ideas, collaborates with other s, and facilitates clear and concise exchanges of information . Builds relationships . M anages conflicts .
  
  

Financial Acumen: has a basic understanding and uses financial data to make informed decisions . H as the potential to grow knowledge and expertise .

• Understands financial concepts and processes and make s informed decisions to maximize profits and decrease loss .
• Understands financial performance metrics such as EBITDA.
• Analyzes and interprets relevant financial reports and statements.
• Prepares, implements, and manages budgets and make informed financial decisions. 
• Manages financial indicators .
• Determines if cost or investments are worth pursuing and influences approval based on the benefits it would bring the plant and company.
  
  

Qualifications

Education : 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering ; related technical field
• Advanced Degree preferred
  
  

Experience:

• Five (5) to ten (10) years of leadership/management experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Experience in the use of Continuous Improvement/lean implementation
• Experience in a heavy industrial environment required , building and construction fields a plus
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the building and construction industry ; insulation manufacturing products and processes preferred
• Knowledge of design principles, tools, and techniques to create technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models
• Skilled in employee and labor relations
• Ability to communicate effectively , partner with others, and make quick, thorough decisions
• Ability to lead, motivate, and coach others to produce winning solutions
• Ability to work hands-on in an industrial manufacturing environment, as well as in a corporate environment
• Effective negotiation skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Follow-up skills
• Proactive in identifying areas of opportunity and suggesting ideas for improvement
• Effective public speaking and presentation skills
• Computer skills in MS Windows environment; proficient in Word, PowerPoint and Excel
  
  

It is the policy of Knauf Insulation to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic prohibited by applicable law.