Automotive Plant Operations Leader – Lean, Safety, Growth

Software Placement Group; Saint Joseph (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Short-term and long-term disability

401K

Paid holidays and vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Relocation package available

Job summary

Software Placement Group is assisting an automotive manufacturer in St. Joseph, MI hire a Sr. Manufacturing Manager to lead plant operations and partner with the General Manager to drive profitability and continuous improvement.

The role emphasizes Lean, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, with 60-70% floor time and a history of managing 100+ employees across multi-shift operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or Associate’s degree acceptable.
• Minimum five years in an operations management role.
• Experience in metals environments (stamping, machining, fabrication) or automotive supplier.
• Experience overseeing direct and indirect reports, 100+ employees in multi-shift operations.
• Strong cost awareness: variable costs, labor planning, cost of manufacturing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the General Manager to evaluate plant P&L and monitor variable costs to maximize profitability.
• Direct daily production activities and lead 6-12 month planning cycle.
• Oversee the operations budget, labor planning, production scheduling, and material control.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, 5S initiatives, and plant cleanliness.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, customer specs, and environmental regulations.
• Lead proactive safety programs, including training and investigations.
• Build and manage the operations leadership team and onboarding processes.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and problem resolution.
• Manage schedules, attendance, and vacations of direct reports.
• Spend 60-70% of the day on the manufacturing floor.

Skills

Operations management

Metal stamping

Labor planning

Cost of manufacturing

People management

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Associate’s degree considered

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Software Placement Group is assisting an automotive manufacturer in St. Joseph, MI hire a Sr. Manufacturing Manager to lead plant operations and partner with the General Manager to drive profitability and continuous improvement.

The role emphasizes Lean, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, with 60-70% floor time and a history of managing 100+ employees across multi-shift operations.