Assistant Plant Manager

MKB Company is a fast-growing industrial manufacturer with a commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational excellence. We serve customers across the U.S. through a strong distribution network and technically supported sales team.

The Assistant Plant Manager supports the Plant Manager in leading daily operations within a manufacturing facility, with a strong focus on execution, people leadership, safety, and continuous improvement. This role is critical in larger facilities and helps ensure operational excellence while enabling the Plant Manager to support broader regional responsibilities.

The Assistant Plant Manager is a visible, hands-on leader who respects people at all levels, owns outcomes on the floor, and actively supports the growth and development of the team in alignment with MKB’s values.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

Operational Leadership | Own the Outcome

• Support daily plant operations, including production, scheduling, inventory control, and shipping/receiving.
• Ensure production goals are met for safety, quality, on-time delivery, and efficiency.
• Monitor operational KPIs and take ownership of issues, escalating appropriately and driving solutions.
• Assist in overseeing preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime and improve reliability.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, and safety standards.

People Leadership | Respect People, Always

• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to frontline leaders and hourly employees.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, and development of employees.
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and accountable work environment.
• Support performance management, coaching, and employee relations in partnership with the Plant Manager and HR.
• Model professionalism, fairness, and consistency in applying company policies.

Customer Service & Quality | Own the Outcome

• Support resolution of customer, quality, or delivery issues with urgency and professionalism.
• Help prepare for and host customer visits, audits, and facility tours.
• Ensure adherence to quality standards and support corrective actions and root-cause analysis.

Continuous Improvement | Grow Together

• Participate in Lean initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, material flow, safety, and labor utilization.
• Encourage employee involvement in improvement efforts and knowledge sharing.
• Support implementation of standardized processes and best practices.

Financial & Budget Management

• Manage the plant’s operating budget, ensuring cost control and fiscal responsibility.
• Make recommendations for capital expenditures to support growth, safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Oversee labor planning and staffing models to balance cost with production needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration | Grow Together

• Work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, HR, and Finance to support site and company goals.
• Serve as a consistent leadership presence across shifts as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of manufacturing or industrial operations experience.
• Prior supervisory or lead experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of safety, quality, and continuous improvement principles.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Core Competencies

• Own the Outcome – Takes accountability for site performance and service delivery.
• Grow Together – Builds trusted relationships with employees, peers, and customers.
• Respect People, Always – Leads with integrity, transparency, and fairness.
• Service Mindset – Ensures every interaction supports MKB’s commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Continuous Improvement Focus – Identifies opportunities to streamline processes and improve results.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic data or other legally protected status.  MKB Company is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. To verify the information in the job listing or if you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please call: 717-839-6499. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.