General Manager Manufacturing

Higher Recruitment, Inc.; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Higher Recruitment, Inc. is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a manufacturing operation in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The role demands hands-on leadership, strategic focus, and accountability for safety, quality, and financial performance.

The successful candidate will develop strong teams, drive continuous improvement, and translate strategy into measurable results across production, quality, and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading a manufacturing facility with responsibility for operational and financial results.
• Strong understanding of operating metrics, cost structures, and continuous improvement principles.
• Demonstrated success developing leaders and building high-performing teams.
• Strong financial and business acumen with data-driven decision making.
• Track record of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining engaged with day-to-day manufacturing operations.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or similar methodologies is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the manufacturing operation.
• Own site-level operational and financial performance, including profitability, productivity, cost management, and resource utilization.
• Lead, develop, and coach a cross-functional team spanning operations, production, quality, engineering, maintenance, supply chain, and other supporting functions.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and operating rhythms throughout the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, waste reduction, and cost efficiency.
• Partner with sales and customer-facing teams to ensure the facility consistently delivers against customer expectations.
• Utilize KPIs and operational data to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve overall plant performance.
• Build and maintain a culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and applicable safety and environmental standards.
• Lead workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement efforts.
• Identify opportunities to optimize processes, equipment, staffing, and resources to support profitable growth.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and other company locations to implement best practices and improve overall business performance.
• Serve as a visible and engaged leader who builds strong relationships with employees at all levels.

Skills

Business acumen

Manufacturing leadership

Strategic planning

People development

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Engineering

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead the overall performance of a manufacturing operation in Waukesha, Wisconsin. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a hands‑on, business‑minded manufacturing executive who can drive operational excellence, develop strong teams, improve profitability, and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The General Manager will have broad responsibility for the site's operations, financial performance, quality, safety, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring strong business acumen, proven manufacturing leadership experience, and the ability to translate strategy into measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the manufacturing operation.
• Own site-level operational and financial performance, including profitability, productivity, cost management, and resource utilization.
• Lead, develop, and coach a cross-functional team spanning operations, production, quality, engineering, maintenance, supply chain, and other supporting functions.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and operating rhythms throughout the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, waste reduction, and cost efficiency.
• Partner with sales and customer-facing teams to ensure the facility consistently delivers against customer expectations.
• Utilize KPIs and operational data to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve overall plant performance.
• Build and maintain a culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and applicable safety and environmental standards.
• Lead workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement efforts.
• Identify opportunities to optimize processes, equipment, staffing, and resources to support profitable growth.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and other company locations to implement best practices and improve overall business performance.
• Serve as a visible and engaged leader who builds strong relationships with employees at all levels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading a manufacturing facility, plant, or business unit with responsibility for operational and financial results.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, operating metrics, cost structures, and continuous improvement principles.
• Demonstrated success developing leaders and building high-performing teams.
• Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to understand financial results and turn data into actionable business decisions.
• Track record of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining engaged with day-to-day manufacturing operations.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or similar methodologies is highly desirable.