Hands-On Plant Manager: KPI-Driven Ops Leader

International Search Consultants; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

International Search Consultants is seeking a Plant Manager in Fort Wayne, IN to lead all plant operations, including production, scheduling, quality, safety, and maintenance. This hands-on leader will drive continuous improvement, manage budgets and staff, and ensure material availability to meet targets.

The ideal candidate brings 3+ years in plant leadership, experience with steel fabrication, BOMs, ERP systems, and a proven track record of KPI-driven results on the plant floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• 3+ years' Plant Manager or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience.
• Steel fabrication/manufacturing experience converting raw materials into a tangible finished product.
• Experience with configured products, Bills of Material (BOMs), and labor management.
• Basic P&L and financial understanding, including plant costs and the financial impact of operational decisions.
• Experience leading approximately 3-5 direct employees and 35-60 indirect employees.
• Hands-on, 'get your hands dirty' leadership style; visible and engaged on the plant floor.
• Proven people leadership, including coaching, developing, and holding manufacturing employees accountable.
• KPI-driven; able to show how metrics were implemented and used to improve business performance.
• Lean / Continuous Improvement experience with demonstrated process and operational improvements.
• Experience with manufacturing software and ERP systems.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee daily production activities to ensure timely and efficient manufacturing processes.
• Manage production schedules, budgets, staffing, and resources to achieve production targets.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity and reduce production costs.
• Champion a safe working environment through policy enforcement, safety audits, regulatory compliance, and corrective actions.
• Recruit, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate production staff, including supervisors and line employees.
• Monitor inventory levels and partner with procurement, logistics, and supply chain teams to ensure material availability and efficient flow.
• Prepare and communicate plant KPIs, production metrics, operational challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership.
• Maintain strict quality standards and promptly address issues to protect product integrity.

Skills

Leadership

KPI-driven

Data-driven

Problem-solving

Communication

Multitasking

Hands-on leadership

Roll-up-your-sleeves

Team development

Decisive

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations Management/Business or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Manufacturing software

Labor management software

Job description

International Search Consultants is seeking a Plant Manager in Fort Wayne, IN to lead all plant operations, including production, scheduling, quality, safety, and maintenance. This hands-on leader will drive continuous improvement, manage budgets and staff, and ensure material availability to meet targets.

The ideal candidate brings 3+ years in plant leadership, experience with steel fabrication, BOMs, ERP systems, and a proven track record of KPI-driven results on the plant floor.