Assistant Plant Manager

Autokiniton-Global-Group-1; Bellevue (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Work-life balance

Growth opportunities

Learning and development

Job summary

Autokiniton is seeking an Assistant Plant Manager to provide leadership and direction for plant operations, safety, quality, productivity and on-time delivery to satisfy internal and external customers.

You will coach supervisors, manage financial performance, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and customer satisfaction in a state-of-the-art automotive components plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or quality.
• 10+ years as Plant Manager/Operations Manager; 7+ years in management.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong automotive frame manufacturing experience.
• Experience with lean manufacturing.
• Proven leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong business acumen to interpret financial data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; English literacy.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct leadership and coaching to the plant leadership team and salaried staff.
• Drive safety, quality, productivity, and on-time delivery to meet customer needs.
• Manage the financial performance of the plant and budget adherence.
• Support customer and supplier interfaces and plant-level initiatives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop management talent within the plant.
• Implement lean programs and production system improvements.
• Ensure OSHA safety compliance and proper use of safety devices.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Coaching

Problem solving

Lean manufacturing

Communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

QAD

MS Excel

Supply chain knowledge

Job description

Tracking Code

11291

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

WE ARE AUTOKINITON

DRIVING SUCCESS FOR THE WORLD'S TOP AUTOMANUFACTURERS.

At AUTOKINITON, we are more than just an automotive supplier — we are the backbone of vehicle performance and safety. Specializing in high-strength structural components and precision stamping assemblies, our parts are trusted by the world’s leading automakers.

Our dedicated teams proudly deliver quality parts and assemblies that contribute to vehicle durability and safety. With decades of experience, a passion for continuous improvement, and a forward-thinking approach, we play a critical role in shaping the future of mobility.

CAREERS WITH AUTOKINITON

Building the Future—Together.

Autokiniton is a trusted partner to the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, known for our operational excellence and culture of continuous improvement.

Our core value, “We, not I,” reflects our commitment to collaboration, integrity, and shared success. We cultivate a workplace that encourages independent thinking, and every associate plays a vital role in our progress.

Join a high-performance team committed to shaping the future of mobility—with opportunity, purpose, and growth at every turn.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

As an Assistant Plant Manager you will be responsible for providing leadership, directing and managing plant operations and supporting departments to achieve optimal levels of safety, quality, productivity and delivery to assure internal and external customer satisfaction. You will provide outstanding customer service, support and coaching to all associates, including supervisors and leaders to help meet all company goals and initiatives. You will be responsible for managing the financial performance of the plant.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Company’s mission, vision, values and goals in the performance of daily activities.
• Provide direct leadership, mentoring, and coaching and supervise the leadership team and all salaried staff in the plant.
• Responsible for the development, performance feedback, direction and leadership of all colleagues in the plant including mentoring, coaching, counseling and corrective action when situations dictate.
• Responsible for the identification, selection, training and coaching management talent.
• Drive the utilization of problem-solving methods for related plant and customer problems / issues.
• Directs, drives, establishes, and implements new programs and plant productivity improvements to achieve plant productivity goals and customer cost reduction goals.
• Responsible for plant manning levels and assures compliance and improvements to the budget.
• Provide plant input into quoting and business development activities (ex. pricing, program management, plant capacity, etc.)
• Responsible for leading the plant safety committee.
• Assign clear responsibilities for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and hold all direct reports accountable for enforcement
• Responsible for ensuring the entire team has the necessary tools and materials to properly perform their roles safely and efficiently.
• Utilize teamwork to develop plant synergy.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping throughout the plant.
• Maintain a positive working relationship with all levels of the organization.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for interactions with outside groups including local, state and national government officials.
• Responsible for customer and supplier interface.
• Represent the company during customer visits / surveys and during meetings / presentations at customers location.
• Provide key input into the development of North America’s strategic business plan.
• Develop and drive the plant’s strategic business plan along with identifying key measurable to support the plant business goals.
• Responsible for the financial performance of the plant.
• Direct the utilization of the company performance metric format to effectively track, monitor, and implement required improvement activities related to business plan, goals, issues, etc.
• Responsible for the safety, quality, productivity and delivery of all plant operations and colleagues.
• Ensure accountability and discipline within the plant.
• Responsible for overall coordination and communication of North America and plant goals.
• Drive implementation of a progressive production system and required operating procedures and work instructions to improve plant performance metrics and meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Provide active leadership role in meeting / exceeding customer expectations in all related areas.
• Develop, drive and support plant activities towards achieving customer awards and Quality registrations (ex. TS 16949/ISO14001)
• Responsible for assuring that all internal and OSHA required procedures are being followed in the performance of daily activities.
• Assure all safety devices are properly in place and utilized, and to verify individual usage of personal protective equipment by the entire work team.
• Comply and oversee compliance with all internal and OSHA required safety procedures in the performance of daily activities.
• Adherence to all company policies & procedures (ex. Quality Policy Manual, Colleague Handbook, Level II Procedures, etc).

LEADERSHIP/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directly supervises the leadership team and responsible for all salaried staff in the plant.
• Responsible for leading, coaching and mentoring the leadership team and providing them with the skills to lead, coach and mentor their direct reports.
• Entrepreneurial in a manner of turning problems into opportunities.
• Engaging leader that facilitates, strengthens, connects and inspires employees throughout the plant.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business related field, prefer manufacturing, engineering or quality, with a Master’s preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) years’ experience as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager or Department Manager in a manufacturing environment with experience in a metals environment preferred, or a combination of degree and experience, and seven (7) years of management experience.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and communication skills.
• Strong experience in automotive frame manufacturing and assembly.
• Strong background with leading project launches.
• Experience in applying lean manufacturing concepts.
• Proven leadership ability and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong business acumen to interpret financial and performance data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software.
• Experience in quality and environmental measurables such as TS 16949 and ISO 14001.
• Ability to read and write in English and to perform mathematical calculations.

PREFERRED ADDITIONAL SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Possess knowledge of plant department functions and corresponding roles and interactions to facilitate overall plant synergy.
• QAD experience as well as strong understanding of supply chain
• Vision and ability to translate progressive operating techniques into applications and results.
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment.Ability to mentor and teach the team effective problem-solving methods.
• Ability to work well with others in a team environment

Relocation Assistance:

• Our company offers comprehensive relocation assistance, including coverage for temporary housing and travel costs for our Skilled Trades and Salaried positions.

Work-Life Balance:

• Many of our Associates have stayed with us for 25+ years! It takes a good work-life balance to make it that far. We support your personal and professional priorities as they impact your well-being.

Growth Opportunities:

• Take your career to the next level through tuition reimbursement programs, on-the-job training, learning management systems, and advancement opportunities from within our organization.

Learning and Development:

• We empower all our Associates – from entry-level to senior-level – with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their current roles and beyond at AUTOKINITON.

AUTOKINITON is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. AUTOKINITON makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. #SalaryHigh2