Assistant Plant Manager

SelectOne; Sanborn (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SelectOne is assisting a manufacturing client in the Northtowns area of New York to identify an experienced Assistant Plant Manager. This role trains under the Plant Manager and advances toward taking full Plant Manager responsibility over a three-year development period.

The successful candidate will lead shop-floor operations, drive safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives, and partner with engineering, maintenance, HR, and quality teams to meet production goals and cost targets.

Qualifications

• Hands-on manufacturing leadership experience on the shop floor.
• Proven ability to lead through supervisors and coordinate with multiple departments.
• Strong focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Plant Manager to understand and ultimately assume responsibility for key manufacturing functions.
• Coordinate manufacturing activities with internal departments and external partners to achieve operational objectives.
• Evaluate resource constraints and help determine the most effective use of people, equipment, materials, and time while balancing cost, quality, and delivery.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve productivity, quality, efficiency, safety, and cost.
• Monitor manufacturing performance and key operational metrics and assist in developing corrective action plans and improvement initiatives.
• Progressively assume additional plant leadership responsibilities as part of the organization's succession plan.
• Serve as acting Plant Manager when assigned or when the Plant Manager is unavailable.
• Participate in safety initiatives and assist in identifying deficiencies and recommending improvements.

Skills

Hands-on leadership

Production operations

Safety leadership

Operational decision-making

Succession planning

Job description

About SelectOne:

SelectOne is a recruiting firm specializing in connecting organizations with top talent across finance, accounting, HR, IT, and operations. We partner closely with our clients to identify professionals who will make an immediate and lasting impact.

About the Company:

Our client is a manufacturing company located in the Northtowns.

About the Job:

Our client is seeking an experienced Assistant Plant Manager to join its manufacturing leadership team. This is a key developmental leadership position designed to partner closely with the current Plant Manager and progressively assume greater responsibility for the overall manufacturing operation.

The successful candidate will work alongside the Plant Manager as a succession candidate, gaining hands‑on exposure to production, people leadership, safety, quality, maintenance, scheduling, continuous improvement, and operational decision‑making. Over an anticipated three-year development period, the Assistant Plant Manager will progressively take ownership of key areas of the operation with the goal of transitioning into the Plant Manager role.

This position will provide leadership and direction to manufacturing supervisors and collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, HR, and other departments to ensure the facility meets safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost objectives.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on manufacturing leader who is ready for the next step in their career and has the ambition to ultimately lead an entire plant. This individual should be comfortable working on the shop floor, leading through supervisors, solving operational problems, and partnering with executive leadership.

The successful candidate will be viewed as a long‑term leadership investment and should be motivated by the opportunity to learn the business from an experienced Plant Manager and grow into the role over time.

Operational Development & Continuous Improvement – 50%

• Work closely with the Plant Manager to understand and ultimately assume responsibility for key manufacturing functions.
• Coordinate manufacturing activities with internal departments and external partners to achieve operational objectives.
• Evaluate resource constraints and help determine the most effective use of people, equipment, materials, and time while balancing cost, quality, and delivery.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve productivity, quality, efficiency, safety, and cost.
• Monitor manufacturing performance and key operational metrics and assist in developing corrective action plans and improvement initiatives.
• Ensure manufacturing functions have the appropriate resources, materials, information, and support to operate efficiently.
• Assist in identifying and mitigating operational risks, including equipment/process obsolescence, staffing needs, disaster recovery, and succession planning.
• Participate in recruiting, training, employee development, performance improvement, and workforce planning.
• Develop a strong understanding of manufacturing technologies, processes, machinery, tooling, and industry best practices.
• Assist with evaluating and recommending new machinery, equipment, tooling, technology, and software.
• Partner with Maintenance to troubleshoot equipment issues and coordinate planned downtime.
• Work with the Plant Manager to prepare and communicate operational updates, performance metrics, and improvement opportunities to executive leadership.
• Participate in safety initiatives and assist in identifying deficiencies and recommending improvements.
• Progressively assume additional plant leadership responsibilities as part of the organization's succession plan.
• Serve as acting Plant Manager when assigned or when the Plant Manager is unavailable.

Special Projects & Leadership Development – 10%

• Participate in strategic and operational projects assigned by executive management.
• Take ownership of projects designed to expand knowledge of plant operations and prepare for future Plant Manager responsibilities.
• Build relationships and effective working partnerships across all departments.
• Participate in leadership development activities, training, and mentoring with the Plant Manager and executive leadership.
• Develop the business, financial, and operational knowledge necessary to successfully lead the plant in the future.

Three-Year Succession Development

This role is specifically designed to provide a structured path toward Plant Manager leadership within approximately three years. The successful candidate will be expected to progressively expand their responsibilities and demonstrate competency across:

• Production and manufacturing operations
• People leadership and employee development
• Safety and regulatory compliance
• Quality and customer requirements
• Maintenance and equipment management
• Production planning and scheduling
• Continuous improvement and operational efficiency
• Budgeting, cost management, and resource allocation
• Cross-functional leadership
• Strategic planning and risk management
• Performance management and accountability
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, listening, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold employees accountable.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across manufacturing and corporate functions.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production flow, and operational efficiency.
• Experience with machining, fabrication, and/or electro‑mechanical assembly preferred.
• Ability to understand manufacturing equipment, tooling, and machinery applications.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing materials, including aluminum, steel, stainless steel, tool steels, and plastics.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, tolerancing, and GD&T.
• Proficiency with inspection tools such as vernier calipers, OD/ID micrometers, bore gauges, and similar equipment.
• Strong understanding of quality, safety, and continuous improvement principles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to quickly learn new systems and technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities involving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people.
• High level of integrity, accountability, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Positive, diplomatic leadership style with the ability to build trust at all levels of an organization.
• Flexible, hands‑on approach and willingness to take ownership wherever needed.