Plant General Manager

Kingfisher Recruiting; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingfisher Recruiting is seeking a Plant General Manager in Lexington, KY to lead a major automotive manufacturing operation. The role oversees production, quality, safety, and financial performance with a hands‑on, results‑oriented leadership style.

The ideal candidate has a proven history of building top teams, delivering sustainable improvements in quality, cost, delivery, and profitability, and guiding new programs from launch through production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Proven experience leading a complex manufacturing plant or major operation.
• Track record of improvements in quality, cost, delivery, safety, productivity, profitability.
• Experience with automotive quality and launch methodologies (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans).
• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for plant operations including production, quality, engineering, maintenance, materials, safety, delivery, and cost.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company objectives and customer requirements.
• Ensure quality, delivery, productivity, and cost targets are met and customer satisfaction is prioritized.
• Maintain ISO compliance and customer quality systems.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, standard work, and waste reduction.
• Establish KPIs and manage the plant's annual operating plan and financial performance.
• Oversee plant P&L, including cost control, labor efficiency, and inventory management.
• Drive a safety‑first culture and respond to plant emergencies and supply disruptions.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Automotive manufacturing

P&L ownership

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Quality systems

New product launches

Team development

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Plant General Manager

Candidates MUST have proven experience and a demonstrated track record of success leading complex manufacturing operations.

Position Summary

The Plant General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, and financial results of the manufacturing facility. This role provides leadership across production, quality, safety, delivery, cost, engineering, and continuous improvement, ensuring the plant consistently meets or exceeds customer and company expectations.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on, results‑oriented manufacturing leader with demonstrated success leading a complex automotive manufacturing operation. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of customer requirements, quality systems, Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, financial management, and the demands associated with supporting major automotive customers.

This individual must be capable of building high‑performing teams, driving accountability, solving complex operational problems, and delivering sustainable improvements in quality, cost, delivery, productivity, safety, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for plant operations, including production, quality, engineering, maintenance, materials, safety, delivery, and cost performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support company objectives, customer requirements, and long‑term business growth.
• Ensure the plant consistently meets or exceeds quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and customer satisfaction objectives.
• Maintain overall accountability for compliance with ISO standards, customer‑specific requirements, and applicable quality systems.
• Drive a culture of quality, customer focus, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Lead and implement continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, problem‑solving, standard work, waste reduction, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Analyze manufacturing processes and plant performance metrics to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, throughput, cost, and profitability.
• Establish and maintain appropriate KPIs and management systems to monitor plant performance and drive accountability.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the plant's annual operating plan, budget, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Maintain accountability for monthly and annual plant P&L results, including cost control, labor efficiency, scrap, overtime, inventory, and productivity.
• Ensure effective response to customer quality issues, warranty concerns, delivery issues, and other customer escalations.
• Provide leadership and oversight for new product and new program launches, ensuring successful execution from launch through production.
• Ensure effective execution of applicable automotive launch and quality processes, including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plans, and related customer requirements.
• Work closely with corporate and plant‑level engineering, quality, sales, materials, and operations teams to ensure successful program launches and ongoing customer support.
• Establish and maintain a safe work environment while ensuring compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure the organization is prepared to effectively respond to plant emergencies, supply disruptions, production interruptions, and other operational challenges.
• Lead, develop, and retain employees while fostering a culture of trust, accountability, teamwork, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold leadership teams accountable for achieving plant objectives.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, development, and corrective direction when necessary.
• Communicate effectively with employees at all levels of the organization and create an environment of open communication and accountability.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational, quality, customer, employee, and performance issues.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships across all functional areas of the organization and with key customers and suppliers.
• Promote a positive, professional, and performance‑driven culture throughout the facility.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Proven experience successfully leading a complex manufacturing plant or major manufacturing operation.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering measurable improvements in quality, cost, delivery, safety, productivity, and profitability.
• Working knowledge of automotive quality and launch methodologies, including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, and structured problem‑solving.
• Strong background and working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence methodologies.
• Proven experience leading new product and new program launches within an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of plant‑level financial management, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and P&L responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, motivate, and retain high‑performing teams.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Ability to effectively delegate responsibility while maintaining accountability for results.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑accountability automotive manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing quality, safety, delivery, productivity, and cost systems.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong automotive supplier experience
• Proven plant leadership and P&L ownership
• A track record of operational improvement and turnaround
• Strong Lean/continuous improvement expertise
• Experience with automotive launches and customer requirements
• Exceptional people leadership and team development
• A strong sense of urgency, accountability, and ownership
• The strongest candidates will have a history of taking full ownership of complex automotive manufacturing operations and consistently delivering sustainable improvements in plant performance, customer satisfaction, and profitability.