Hands-On Plant Manager - Lean Ops & Safety

International Search Consultants; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

International Search Consultants partners with a well-established manufacturing organization in Fort Wayne, IN to recruit a Plant Manager who will lead all aspects of plant operations, from production to safety and quality.

Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will drive lean initiatives, manage scheduling and budgets, develop staff, communicate KPIs to senior leadership, and ensure material flow with supply chain teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 3+ years of Plant Manager or comparable leadership experience.
• Steel fabrication/manufacturing experience, including converting raw materials into a tangible finished product.
• Experience with BOMs and labor management.
• Basic P&L and financial understanding, including plant costs and the financial impact of operational decisions.
• Experience leading 3-5 direct employees and 35-60 indirect employees.
• Hands-on, plant-floor leadership with accountability for outcomes.
• KPI-driven with measurable improvements in operations.
• Lean / Continuous Improvement experience with process improvements.
• Experience with manufacturing software and ERP systems.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, 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.
• Manage staffing levels and employee schedules to support production demands.
• 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

People management

KPIs / metrics

Lean / CI

Hands-on leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

ERP systems

BOMs / Configured products

Data-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Manufacturing software

Job description

International Search Consultants partners with a well-established manufacturing organization in Fort Wayne, IN to recruit a Plant Manager who will lead all aspects of plant operations, from production to safety and quality.

Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will drive lean initiatives, manage scheduling and budgets, develop staff, communicate KPIs to senior leadership, and ensure material flow with supply chain teams.