Ames Plant Director — Operations & Growth Leader

DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC); Ames (IA); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 306,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

3M in Ames, IA is seeking a Plant Director to lead manufacturing operations, drive end-to-end supply chain performance, and champion safety and quality. You will guide a diverse team to deliver innovations that improve lives worldwide, while aligning with regulatory standards and company policies.

This senior leadership role requires a strong track record in manufacturing management, Lean Six Sigma expertise, and strategic budgeting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• Ten years of combined experience in quality, product/process/project engineering, or manufacturing.
• Five years in a manufacturing management role.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to make products that improve lives worldwide.
• Oversee plant operations, EH&S, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, cost, and employee relations.
• Ensure safe, compliant environmental health and safety practices.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Strategic planning

Process improvement

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Job Description:

Plant Director-Ames Iowa

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a diversity of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers.

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As a Plant Director, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Leading a team of employees dedicated to making products to enhance and improve lives for people around the world
• Leading operational excellence at our Ames, IA Plant through conscientious management and decisive actions in environment, health, safety, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, cost, and employee relations
• Overseeing plant environment, health, safety, and security practices that respect our environment, meet requirements established by regulatory bodies, protect our employees, and align with company expectations.
• Accelerating value creation for our customers through responsive end-to-end supply chain performance and prompt resolution to customer inquiries
• Developing strategic plans and budgets to drive continuous and sustainable improvements through the application of disruptive technology, lean six sigma methods, and effective employee engagement programs
• Championing inclusive programs that create a great place to work for all our employees

Your Skills and Expertise
To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start) from an accredited institution
• Ten (10) years of combined experience in quality, product/process/project engineering, or manufacturing in a private, public, government, or military environment
• Five (5) years of experience in a management role in a manufacturing setting in a private, public, government or military environment

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Plant Manager (or equivalent) experience in a complex (e.g. size, NPI) organization
• Demonstrated strong leadership ability and history of leading high-performance teams
• Experience and certification with Lean Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing methodologies
• Experience in operational excellence, lean implementation, and financial accounting

Work location: On-site Ames, IA

Travel: May include up to 10% domestic

Relocation Assistance: Is authorized

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well-being

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.

Chat with Max

For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting on 3M.com/careers.

Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $250,253 - $305,864, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.Good Faith Posting Date Range 09/21/2026 To 10/21/2026 Or until filledAll US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M.Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.

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