Plant General Manager

Employbridge; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

EmployBridge in the United States seeks an executive manufacturing leader to drive performance across Production, Quality, Materials, Logistics, and Maintenance, with hands-on startup experience to build a world-class automotive plant.

You will lead safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity, install equipment, run pilot production, define metrics, and champion continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with industry standards and customer requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business or related field.
• 15+ years manufacturing experience.
• 7+ years leadership within automotive manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading plant startups, greenfield projects or major ramp-ups.
• Strong knowledge of automotive systems, production planning, supply chain, and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing large cross-functional teams and delivering measurable results.

Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives.
• Drive plant startup, equipment installation, commissioning, pilot production, SOP, and capacity expansion.
• Establish performance metrics and accountability across operational functions.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, industry standards, and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee daily production activities to meet customer demand and targets.
• Optimize labor utilization, throughput, equipment efficiency, and manufacturing performance.
• Support new product launches, process validation, and production readiness.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving to remove operational constraints.
• Oversee production planning, inventory control, warehousing, and logistics.
• Manage plant budgets, capital expenditures, and cost-improvement initiatives.
• Develop and mentor department leaders and build a high-performing culture.
• Drive profitability through productivity improvements, waste reduction, and efficiency.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Plant startups

Cross-functional leadership

Continuous improvement

Operational excellence

Automotive manufacturing

Quality management

Production planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing or related

Tools

IATF 16949

APQP/PPAP

FMEA

MSA

Job description

This executive-level role reports to senior leadership and is responsible for driving all aspects of plant performance across Production, Quality, Materials, Logistics, and Maintenance.

This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on manufacturing leader with experience in greenfield startups, plant launches, production ramp-up, and automotive operations to build and scale a world-class facility from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives.
• Drive plant startup, equipment installation, commissioning, pilot production, SOP, and capacity expansion activities.
• Establish performance metrics and accountability across all operational functions.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, industry standards, and regulatory expectations.

Operations & Production

• Oversee daily production activities to meet customer demand and production targets.
• Optimize labor utilization, throughput, equipment efficiency, and manufacturing performance.
• Support new product launches, process validation, and production readiness activities.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving efforts to remove operational constraints.

Quality & Customer Performance

• Maintain and improve quality systems aligned with automotive manufacturing standards.
• Lead corrective actions, customer issue resolution, and audit readiness initiatives.
• Serve as the primary operational contact for customer visits, performance reviews, and escalation management.

Supply Chain & Logistics

• Oversee production planning, inventory control, warehousing, and logistics operations.
• Ensure uninterrupted material flow to support production requirements.
• Collaborate with suppliers and customers to achieve delivery and inventory objectives.

Financial & Organizational Leadership

• Manage plant budgets, capital expenditures, and cost-improvement initiatives.
• Develop and mentor department leaders while building a high-performing culture.
• Drive profitability through productivity improvements, waste reduction, and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business Management, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of manufacturing experience.
• 7+ years of leadership experience within automotive manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading plant startups, greenfield projects, production launches, or major operational ramp-ups.
• Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing systems, quality standards, production planning, supply chain operations, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing large cross-functional teams and driving measurable operational results.

Preferred

• Experience in EV, battery, electrified powertrain, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Greenfield startup or major facility launch experience.
• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement leadership experience.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent certification.
• Experience supporting OEM customers and automotive quality systems including IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and MSA