Plant Manager - Manufacturing Automotive

The Plant Manager holds full operational and P&L responsibility for the manufacturing facility, leading all aspects of production, quality, engineering, maintenance, safety, and administrative functions. This role is accountable for translating corporate strategy and customer requirements into daily plant performance — safely, on time, at quality, and at cost. The Plant Manager builds and leads a high-performing leadership team, drives a culture of continuous improvement, and serves as the primary site leader for customer, corporate, and workforce engagement.

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP

•     Own full P&L accountability for the plant, including revenue, cost, labor, and capital performance against budget.

•     Direct all daily manufacturing operations, including production scheduling, capacity planning, and materials flow, to meet customer delivery commitments.

•     Lead, develop, and hold accountable a cross-functional leadership team including Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Production, Materials/Supply Chain, and Human Resources.

•     Establish and monitor plant KPIs (safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity) and drive corrective action for gaps to target.

•     Develop and manage the plant's annual operating budget and capital expenditure (CAPEX) plan.

•     Oversee facility, equipment, and tooling maintenance to ensure reliable, uninterrupted operations.

•     Lead greenfield, brownfield, and expansion projects as required, including plant layout, equipment installation, and line launches.

SAFETY, QUALITY & COMPLIANCE

•     Champion a proactive safety culture; ensure full compliance with OSHA and all applicable EHS regulations.

•     Maintain compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 quality and environmental management systems.

•     Ensure robust APQP, PPAP, DFMEA/PFMEA, and control plan practices are followed for new and running programs.

•     Own root cause analysis and corrective action processes for safety incidents, quality escapes, and customer complaints.

•     Ensure readiness for customer, corporate, and third-party quality and safety audits.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & PROGRAM LAUNCH

•     Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen, 5S, VSM, TPM, Standard Work) across all plant functions.

•     Own the plant's launch readiness for new programs, coordinating with Engineering and Program Management to meet program timing, cost, and quality milestones.

•     Identify and lead automation, process improvement, and cost-reduction projects to improve throughput, scrap, and OEE.

•     Benchmark plant performance against corporate and industry standards, driving best-practice sharing across sites.

PEOPLE & ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

•     Recruit, develop, and retain plant leadership and hourly workforce talent; build succession plans for key roles.

•     Set the tone for plant culture, employee engagement, and labor relations, maintaining compliance with employment law and company policy.

•     Partner with Human Resources on staffing plans, workforce training, performance management, and disciplinary matters.

•     Communicate plant performance, goals, and priorities clearly to all levels of the organization through regular staff and shift meetings.

CUSTOMER & CORPORATE INTERFACE

•     Serve as the primary site contact for customer visits, audits, and escalations, maintaining strong customer relationships.

•     Provide regular executive-level reporting on plant performance, risks, and improvement plans to corporate leadership.

•     Partner with Sales, Program Management, and Corporate Engineering to support quoting, feasibility, and new business launches.

•     Represent the plant in corporate strategic planning, budgeting, and capacity allocation discussions.

•     Perform other duties as assigned.

•     Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree a plus.

•     10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in the automotive or related industrial sector, including 5 years in a Plant Manager, Operations Director, or equivalent site-leadership role.

•     Demonstrated full P&L ownership and budget management experience.

•     Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and automotive quality/launch processes (APQP, PPAP, DFMEA/PFMEA).

•     Proven track record leading Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement programs.

•     Experience managing unionized and/or large hourly workforces preferred.

•     Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and multiple direct reports.

•     Experience with CAPEX planning, facility expansion, or greenfield/brownfield launches preferred.

•     Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and standard business software (Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project).

•     Must be authorized to work in the United States.

•     This position requires the use of eye protection and hearing protection, along with any additional PPE specific to the task being performed while on the shop floor.

This role is based primarily on-site in a manufacturing plant environment with regular exposure to shop-floor conditions, including noise, heat, and machine coolant/lubricants. Must be able to stand, walk, and move throughout the facility for extended periods, and be able to occasionally lift up to 40 lbs. Some travel to corporate offices, customer sites, or other company facilities may be required.

•     Directly reports to: SVP of Operations,

•     Direct reports: Engineering Manager, Quality Manager, Production Managers/Supervisors, Maintenance Manager, Materials/Supply Chain Manager, Human Resources Manager.

• •     Works closely with: Corporate Engineering, Sales/Program Management, Finance, and OEM customer representatives.