Plant Director I

USA Donaldson Company Inc.; Cresco (IA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual incentive plan

Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Plan

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Donaldson Company, Inc. in Cresco, IA is seeking a Plant Director to lead site operations and deliver strong safety, quality, delivery, and financial results. You will set the plant direction, build a high-performing team, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement to meet customer expectations. The role emphasizes cost control, budgeting, and inventory management in a competitive manufacturing environment. Relocation assistance may be available.

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.
• Proven ability to manage safety, quality, delivery, cost, budgets, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Ensures a strong and effective culture within the plant in safety, quality, and manufacturing excellence.
• Cultivates a highly engaged and accountable workforce, championing teamwork and commitment.
• Leads teams across Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain within the manufacturing facility.
• Oversees Environmental Health and Safety programs to ensure compliance and a safe work environment.
• Exceeds customer expectations through delivering on-time delivery and high quality performance with lower PPM.
• Develops and responsible for meeting operational budgets including manufacturing cost, CAPEX, and Inventory.
• Drives cost reduction through projects for labor, material and overhead.
• Maintains optimal inventory to meet customer demand while supporting cash conversion targets.
• Develops strategic plans for plant footprint, equipment, staffing, and resources to drive continuous improvements.

Skills

Safety leadership

Team leadership

Cost reduction

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Supply Chain/Business

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

ERP systems (Oracle)

P&L management

Job description

Donaldson is committed to solving the worlds 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.

Plant Director

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.

Role Responsibilities

• Ensures a strong and effective culture within the plant in the areas of safety, quality, and manufacturing excellence.
• Cultivates a highly engaged and accountable workforce, championing teamwork and commitment.
• Leads teams across Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain within the manufacturing facility.
• Overseas Environmental Health and Safety programs to ensure compliance to regulatory bodies and creating a safe work environment for our employees.
• Exceeding customer expectations through delivering at high on time delivery and high quality performance through lower PPM.
• Develops and responsible for meeting operational financial budget including manufacturing cost, Capital Expenditure, and Inventory.
• Drives to optimize profit though developing and implementing cost reduction projects for labor, material and overhead.
• Maintains optimal inventory level to meet customer demand while meeting cash conversion targets.
• Develops strategic plans incorporating break though objectives to drive continuous sustainable improvements within the facility to continue the journey as a world class manufacturing operation.
• Develops, recommends, and executes on short- and long-range strategic plans related to plant footprint, equipment, staffing and other resources.

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.
• Proven ability to manage safety, quality, delivery, cost, budgets, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Relocation

Relocation: This position is eligible for relocation assistance.

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

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

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

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.

Donaldson Company helps solve some of the worlds most complex filtration and contamination control challenges, and is one of the largest global providers of unique filtration technologies and high-quality filters and parts.

Our filtration technologies and products are used every day, in a variety of industries and environments, including aerospace, agriculture, construction, food and beverage, manufacturing, mining, power generation, transportation and many more.

Key to our success, our 14,000 employees support customers at sales, manufacturing and distribution centers from over 140 locations on six continents.

The filtration market continues to grow. Customers' needs for filtration solutions continue to evolve. And the opportunities for our products and our people continue to expand.

Learn more at www.donaldson.com.