Plant Director I

Donaldson; Chillicothe (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual incentive plan

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Health benefits

Job summary

Donaldson is seeking a Plant Director to lead Chillicothe, MO operations, delivering safety, quality, delivery, and financial results through strong leadership and employee engagement.

You will set the facility direction, build a high-performing team, ensure compliance, and drive continuous improvement to meet business and customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including 5+ years of people leadership.
• Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience including plant-level or multi-function responsibility.
• Experience managing SQDC, inventory, and P&L performance.
• Lean Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM, PMP, OSHA, or similar certification.
• Experience leading cultural transformation and employee engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations to achieve business, customer, and operational performance goals.
• Build and sustain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with EHS, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost through KPIs and disciplined execution.
• Develop, engage, and hold accountable a high-performing leadership team and workforce.
• Own plant financial results, including budgets, productivity, cost reduction, inventory, and capital planning.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives to eliminate waste and improve flow.
• Oversee production planning, capacity, staffing, materials, and resource allocation to meet demand.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align plant capabilities and strategic plans.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Six Sigma

Process optimization

ERP systems

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related field

Master’s degree or MBA

Tools

Oracle ERP

Lean manufacturing tools

PMP

OSHA

Job description

Donaldson is committed to solving the world’s most complex filtration challenges. Together, we make cool things. As an established technology and innovation leader, we are continuously evolving to meet the filtration needs of our changing world. Join a culture of collaboration and innovation that matters and a chance to learn, effect change, and make meaningful contributions at work and in communities.

The Plant Director leads site operations to deliver strong performance in safety, quality, delivery, and financial results through strong employee engagement. This role sets the direction for the facility, develops a high-performing team, ensures compliance, and drives continuous improvement to meet business and customer expectations.

Qualified candidates must be able to work an on-site schedule at our Chillicothe, MO facility daily.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations to achieve business, customer, and operational performance goals.
• Build and sustain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with EHS, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost through clear goals, KPI management, and disciplined execution.
• Develop, engage, and hold accountable a high-performing leadership team and workforce.
• Own plant financial results, including budgets, productivity, cost reduction, inventory, and capital planning.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement initiatives to eliminate waste, improve flow, and increase efficiency.
• Oversee production planning, capacity, staffing, materials, and resource allocation to meet customer demand.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align plant capabilities, priorities, and strategic plans.

Travel

Up to 20%

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including 5+ years of people leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or MBA.
• Working experience in ERP systems, preferably Oracle.
• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, including plant-level or multi-function responsibility.
• Experience managing complex operations with responsibility for SQDC, inventory, and P&L performance.
• Lean Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM, PMP, OSHA, or similar certification.
• Experience leading cultural transformation, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
• Proven ability to manage safety, quality, delivery, cost, budgets, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of EHS requirements, quality systems, Lean manufacturing, and manufacturing financial drivers.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, change management, and collaboration skills.

Relocation

This position is eligible for relocation assistance

Compensation

In addition to the base salary, this position is eligible for:

• Annual incentive plan based on performance and company growth.
• Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Benefits

Employee benefits are part of the competitive total rewards package that Donaldson Company, Inc. provides to you. Our comprehensive benefits program includes health benefits, retirement plan (401k), paid time away, paid leaves (including paid parental leave) and more.

Immigration Sponsorship Not Available

• Applicants for this position must be currently and legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship (e.g., H-1B, J-1, F-1, CPT, OPT, etc.).
• Donaldson will not offer immigration sponsorship or assume sponsorship of an employment visa for this position.
• International relocation or remote work arrangements outside of the U.S. will not be considered.

Keywords

Plant Director, Plant Manager, Manufacturing, Operations, Leadership, Lean Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain, KPI Management, Cost Reduction, Safety, OEM

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability and Veterans

Employment opportunities for positions in the United States may require use of information which is subject to the export control regulations of the United States. Hiring decisions for such positions are required by law to be made in compliance with these regulations. Applicants for employment opportunities in other countries must be able to meet the comparable export control requirements of that country and of the United States.

Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law.