Position Summary
The Plant Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of manufacturing operations, including safety, production execution, workforce leadership, supply continuity, equipment reliability, inventory accuracy, and facility performance.
This role requires a hands-on operations leader who can drive accountability, develop people, enforce standards, and ensure the plant consistently meets customer demand, quality expectations, and cost objectives.
The Plant Manager will operate in a data-driven manufacturing environment using ERP systems (SAP Business One currently in use). BatchMaster experience is beneficial but not required.
Company manufacturing locations operate as part of an integrated network. Each plant is expected to support internal branch and customer demand with the same urgency and service level as external customers.
Key Responsibilities
Safety & Regulatory Compliance
· Lead and enforce plant safety culture and safety programs
· Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards
· Conduct safety reviews, incident investigations, and corrective actions
· Ensure completion of safety training and certifications
· Promote stop-work authority and hazard reporting culture
Production & Operations Leadership
· Ensure inventory accuracy throughout all stages in the operation
· Execute daily and weekly production plans aligned with customer demand
· Lead daily production meetings (Safety / Quality / Delivery / Cost focus)
· Ensure adherence to SOPs, batch instructions, and quality requirements
· Drive production efficiency, throughput, and schedule adherence
· Manage production across multiple manufacturing cells and packaging operations
Workforce Leadership & Personnel Management
Hiring & Staffing
· Lead hiring of production personnel in partnership with VP of Operations and HR
· Ensure proper staffing levels in all production cells
· Maintain balanced skill distribution across workforce
Performance & Accountability
· Set performance expectations for hourly production employees
· Coach and develop operators and production leads
· Lead disciplinary actions in partnership with HR when required
· Conduct performance reviews and development planning
Shift & Labor Management
· Create a healthy work culture
· Schedule operator shifts to support production demand
· Assign operators based on skill, training, and production needs
· Adjust staffing based on production volume, absenteeism, and equipment availability
Cross-Training & Workforce Development
· Develop cross-training programs across production areas
· Maintain training matrices and skill tracking
· Identify and develop future lead and supervisory talent
Supply Chain, Inventory & Purchasing Oversight
· Work with Supply Chain team to have healthy inventory levels for all raw materials using ERP and production planning data.
· Initiate and manage purchase orders as well as Internal Transfer Requests for raw materials, packaging components and plant operating supplies in accordance with company purchasing policies
· Maintain working relationships with approved suppliers to ensure reliable material availability and service performance
· Monitor supplier delivery performance and escalate supply risks as needed
· Coordinate with technical and corporate leadership on new raw material approvals and supplier qualification
· Support cost control initiatives through supplier communication and usage optimization
· Maintain purchasing documentation and ensure ERP purchasing transactions are accurate and timely
The Plant Manager will execute purchasing activities in alignment with company procurement policies and approved supplier programs. Vendor selection, contract negotiation, and strategic sourcing initiatives may be managed centrally as the organization continues to evolve its supply chain structure.
Facility Management
· Maintain facility condition, safety systems, and infrastructure
· Coordinate repairs, inspections, and facility upgrades
· Ensure compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements
· Create and oversee plant preventive maintenance programs
· Ensure maintenance of mixers, pumps, compressors and all equipment.
· Coordinate internal maintenance and external service vendors
· Support capital equipment planning and justification
ERP & Data Discipline
· Ensure accurate production postings and batch closures
· Maintain inventory accuracy and WIP visibility
· Support ERP discipline across production operations
· Use ERP data to drive decision-making and accountability
Quality & Process Control
· Partner with Quality / Lab teams to resolve non-conformances
· Drive root cause analysis and corrective action implementation
· Ensure product traceability and batch documentation compliance
Key Performance Indicators (Operational Accountability)
On-Time In-Full (OTIF) Performance
· Ensure production and material availability supports customer shipment commitments
· Coordinate production, materials, and shipping readiness to support on-time customer delivery
· Proactively identify risks to customer delivery commitments and implement recovery actions
Inventory Accuracy & Material Control
· Maintain high levels of physical and system inventory accuracy
· Ensure cycle count programs are executed per company policy
· Investigate inventory variances and implement corrective actions
· Maintain accurate material consumption reporting and lot traceability
Required Qualifications
· 3+ years manufacturing leadership experience (chemical, ink, coatings, or batch manufacturing preferred)
· 3+ years direct people leadership experience in production environments
· Mandatory: Strong ERP system experience in a manufacturing environment
· Candidates must be comfortable using ERP systems as a daily operational management tool, not only as a reporting tool
· Experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations
· Experience managing safety programs in manufacturing environments
· Proven ability to drive accountability and performance improvement
Preferred / Nice to Have Qualifications
· Experience in ink, coatings, specialty chemicals, or batch processing
· BatchMaster experience
· SAP Business One experience (Strongly Preferred but not required)
· Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience
Leadership Traits Required
· High accountability mindset
· Strong communication and floor presence
· Ability to drive change while maintaining workforce engagement
· Data-driven decision making
· Strong problem-solving and execution focus
Success Profile (First 6–12 Months)
Successful candidates will:
· Stabilize production performance and schedule adherence
· Improve workforce accountability and training depth
· Strengthen safety culture and compliance
· Improve inventory accuracy and material flow reliability
· Strengthen cross-functional communication and execution
Physical & Work Environment
· Manufacturing plant environment
· Regular walking, standing, and plant floor presence required
· Able to lift 50 lb
· Sit-down forklift
Pay: $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
