General Manager

Smith Arnold Partners; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Arnold Partners seeks a hands-on Plant General Manager to lead the start-up and ongoing operations of a greenfield manufacturing facility. You will own the plant performance, from construction through commissioning to steady production, with responsibility for safety, quality, budgets, and capital projects.

The role requires an engineering background, 10+ years in manufacturing leadership, and a proven track record delivering large-scale capital programs, building teams, and achieving

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading a plant start-up, greenfield facility, major expansion, or significant capital project.
• Strong project management and contractor management experience.
• Proven P&L responsibility and business leadership.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence principles.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in highly regulated or complex manufacturing environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, commissioning, and launch of a new manufacturing facility.
• Oversee all capital projects from planning through execution and completion.
• Manage relationships with contractors, engineering firms, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Ensure construction, equipment installation, and commissioning activities are completed safely and efficiently.
• Develop facility operational readiness plans, staffing strategies, and start-up timelines.
• Direct all manufacturing, production, maintenance, quality, logistics, and engineering functions.
• Establish operational procedures, performance standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive productivity, efficiency, on-time delivery, and cost reduction efforts.
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics to support operational excellence

Skills

Leadership experience

Project management

Contractor management

Operations leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Regulatory compliance

Decision-making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

MBA or advanced technical degree preferred

Job description

This is a unique opportunity for a leader who can build a manufacturing operation from the ground up. Since the company is launching a new facility, the role should emphasize plant start-up, project execution, engineering oversight, operational leadership, and strategic business management.

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Plant General Manager to lead the start-up and ongoing operations of a new manufacturing facility. This individual will have full responsibility for plant performance, including operations, engineering, project management, capital investments, safety, quality, production, and financial results.

The ideal candidate combines strong business acumen with a technical engineering background and has a proven track record leading manufacturing operations, overseeing facility launches, managing large-scale capital projects, and building high-performing teams.

The Plant General Manager will play a critical role in transforming a greenfield operation into a world-class manufacturing facility while ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.

Why you will love this role:

• Growth Trajectory: Join a company on the rise, with new programs and global expansion fueling momentum.
• Innovation-Driven Culture: Be part of a team that values precision, progress, and pushing the boundaries of carbon technology.
• Chance to take ownership from the ground up

Title: General Manager

Location: Tulsa, OK (On-site)

Potential Compensation: $200,000 to $225,000 + Bonus

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, commissioning, and launch of a new manufacturing facility.
• Oversee all capital projects from planning through execution and completion.
• Manage relationships with contractors, engineering firms, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Ensure construction, equipment installation, and commissioning activities are completed safely and efficiently.
• Develop facility operational readiness plans, staffing strategies, and start-up timelines.

Operations Management

• Direct all manufacturing, production, maintenance, quality, logistics, and engineering functions.
• Establish operational procedures, performance standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive productivity, efficiency, on-time delivery, and cost reduction efforts.
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics to support operational excellence

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Lead plant engineering activities including process improvements, equipment selection, automation, and facility optimization.
• Support new product introductions and manufacturing scalability.
• Identify opportunities for process enhancements and operational efficiencies.
• Ensure compliance with all engineering, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

Financial & Business Management

• Manage plant P&L and annual operating budgets.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to achieve production and business objectives.
• Evaluate capital expenditures and investment opportunities.
• Monitor plant costs, labor utilization, inventory, and overall profitability.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing leadership and operational teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with senior leadership to align plant objectives with overall company strategy.
• Lead workforce planning and organizational development activities.

Safety & Quality

• Champion a strong safety-first culture.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, environmental, and industry regulations.
• Implement quality systems and operational controls to ensure consistent product standards.
• Drive corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading a plant start-up, greenfield facility, major expansion, or significant capital project.
• Strong project management and contractor management experience.
• Proven success managing engineering, operations, maintenance, and manufacturing teams.
• Demonstrated P&L responsibility and business leadership experience.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence principles.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in highly regulated or complex manufacturing environments preferred.

Desired Background

• Manufacturing plant start-up or greenfield experience.
• Engineering leadership and technical project execution experience.
• Contract negotiation and contractor oversight experience.
• Continuous improvement and operational transformation expertise.
• Strong combination of business leadership and engineering knowledge.