Plant Manager

Company Description

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. 

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. 

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Description

The Plant Manager & Site Lead is responsible for all manufacturing, internal supply chain operations, site safety, and facility management. They lead a cross-functional leadership team, work closely with global managers, and drive continuous improvement in safety, engagement, quality, delivery, cost, and strategic initiatives.

• Be an active member of the Management Team.
• Ensure safety and environmental compliance; continuously improve EHS performance.
• Promote a company culture of continuous improvement on the shop floor.
• Build strong teams and develop future leaders through hands-on experience.
• Develop and deliver annual business plans aligned with the global Y-tree strategy.
• Improve product quality and manufacturing processes.
• Increase on-time delivery and reduced numbers lead to meeting customer expectations.
• Maximize use of equipment and resources, drive productivity gains.
• Control product costs and lead cost-reduction efforts.
• Follow inventory and sourcing rules; work with Supply Chain to improve stock turns and inventory use.
• Set clear performance targets and monitor results.
• Support global projects and new product introductions affecting the site.
• Plan and manage capital investments in equipment, tools, and technology.
• Work with local and global leaders on union relations and negotiations.
• EHS Compliance & Performance - Ensure full compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations while continuously improving safety culture and outcomes.
• Strategic Planning & Execution - Develop and deliver site business plans aligned with global Y-tree objectives and drive execution across all manufacturing functions.
• Operational Performance - Achieve targets for quality, on-time delivery, lead time reduction, and productivity.
• Cost Management - Control manufacturing costs and implement cost-reduction strategies to support site and business profitability.
• Asset Utilization & Productivity - Ensure optimal use of all manufacturing assets and lead initiatives to increase efficiency and output.
• Inventory & Supply Chain Compliance - Collaborate with Supply Chain and Sales teams to meet sourcing policies, improve stock turns, and optimise inventory utilisation.
• Performance Measurement & Reporting - Define KPIs and performance standards, track results, and drive accountability.
• Continuous Improvement Culture - Foster a mindset of continuous improvement throughout the team to ensure sustainable operational enhancements.
• Team Development & Leadership - Build and lead a high-performing team; identify and grow future leaders through coaching and developmental opportunities.
• Project & Initiative Support - Support global initiatives, cross-functional projects, and new product launches impacting site operations.
• Capital Planning - Develop and manage the site’s capital expenditure budget to support strategic growth and operational improvement.
• Labor Relations - Work in partnership with Local and Global Leadership to manage union interactions and lead collective bargaining efforts.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Management, Business Administration, or related field.

Experience

• 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 2 years in a senior leadership role or holding a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Proven experience managing machine operations, ideally with exposure to assembly and aftermarket/service environments.
• Experience in mid-sized plants (~100 people), including cross-functional team leadership.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of:
• CNC machining and tooling
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma principles
• Production Planning & Scheduling
• EHS standards and compliance (Canadian regulatory knowledge preferred)
• Quality Management Systems
• Familiarity with ERP systems
• Working knowledge of Maintenance practices (TPM) and OEE tracking

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to build, lead, and develop teams.
• Experience with labor relations or unionized environments is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills—able to engage with shop floor, leadership, and customers.
• Results-driven with a focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable managing change, navigating ambiguity, and driving cultural transformation.

Eligible to work in the USA (citizen, permanent resident, or valid work permit).

Additional Information

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity. 

Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network. 

Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future. 

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)