Plant Manager

Dover Corp; Ball Ground (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Dover Corp in Ball Ground, GA seeks a Plant Manager to lead all manufacturing, production and operations for the CES ETO business. You will oversee safety, quality, delivery, cost and employee engagement while driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will partner with Product Management, Engineering and Supply Chain to ensure smooth ETO processes, compliant practices, and strong P&L performance across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in industrial management, engineering, business, or related field.
• 15+ years in manufacturing/ops leadership in an ETO/MTO environment.
• 10+ years in plant management or equivalent leadership role.
• Strong ERP/MRP and data-driven decision making.
• Reads blueprints and understands mechanical diagrams.
• Lean/Continuous Improvement methodologies with proven results.
• Cross-functional experience with technical support, order management, and aftermarket operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of Ball Ground manufacturing facility, including production, sourcing, materials, warehousing, planning, scheduling, and logistics for CES projects product lines.
• Maintain a strong shop floor presence and respond directly to production issues and people's needs.
• Identify practical solutions by understanding manufacturing processes.
• Lead by example, uphold Dover's values, foster inclusive and accountable culture.
• Champion talent development, coaching, and engagement for a high-performing workforce.
• Ensure compliance with EHS standards and a culture of safety and accountability.
• Drive continuous improvement using OpEx tools and Lean to improve throughput and reduce waste.
• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain for end-to-end ETO process and DFM transitions.
• Ensure timely, high-quality responses to customer needs and field issues.
• Manage plant P&L metrics, budgets, and performance targets aligned with business objectives.
• Serve as operational interface to corporate functions and other Dover sites for collaboration.

Skills

Lean/Continuous Improvement

Problem solving

Leadership

Communication

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in industrial management, engineering, business, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Plant Manager for Ball Ground, GA site will lead all manufacturing, production, and operational functions supporting the CES Engineering to order (ETO) business. This role will have full accountability for site performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. The role requires a strong combination of leadership, manufacturing knowledge, problem solving and hands on technical involvement on the production floor. Reporting to the Director, Operations, this leader will be a key member of the CES Operations leadership team, driving alignment across product lines and supporting the integration of best practices across the manufacturing network.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the Ball Ground manufacturing facility, including production, sourcing, materials, warehousing, planning, scheduling, and logistics for CES projects product lines.
• Maintain a strong shop floor presence and respond directly to production issues and people's needs
• Understand manufacturing processes sufficiently to identify practical solutions.
• Lead by example, upholding Dover's values and fostering an inclusive, accountable, and results-driven culture.
• Champion talent development, coaching, and engagement to build a high-performing and motivated workforce.
• Ensure compliance with Dover's Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) standards and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and engagement.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives leveraging Dover Operational Excellence (OpEx) tools and Lean methodologies to improve throughput, reduce waste, and optimize cost structure.
• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure efficient and effective end to end Engineering to Order (ETO) process, participating in new product development, Design for manufacturing (DFM) process to assure a smooth transition from design to manufacturing.
• Ensure timely and high-quality responses to customer needs and field issues.
• Manage plant P&L metrics, budgets, and performance targets, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
• Serve as the primary operational interface to corporate functions and other CES manufacturing sites to ensure consistency and collaboration across CES network.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in industrial management, applied engineering, business, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in manufacturing or operations leadership roles in an Engineering to Order (ETO)/Make to Order (MTO) business environment, with at least 10 years in a plant management or equivalent leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-product manufacturing environments with low-volume, high-mix production in an Engineering to Order (ETO) or Make to Order (MTO) business.
• Strong ERP/MRP and data-driven decision-making experience required.
• Reads and interprets blueprints of various components, products, assemblies, and mechanical diagrams.
• Strong knowledge of Lean/Continuous Improvement methodologies and proven ability to implement methodologies, lead changes and drive measurable results.
• Experience managing cross-functional support areas such as technical support, order management, and aftermarket operations preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills with the ability to build alignment and accountability across functions and levels.

Key Competencies

• Operational Leadership. Demonstrates strong business acumen and operational discipline to set clear direction and drive plant performance. Establishes and maintains structured systems, processes, and metrics that ensure safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are consistently achieved. Acts decisively and maintains focus on strategic priorities while ensuring day-to-day execution excellence across all functional areas.
• Continuous Improvement. Champions a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. Applies Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and data-driven decision-making to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve overall operating efficiency. Promotes standard work, process stability, and visual management to sustain performance gains and foster innovation at every level of the organization.
• Customer Focus. Leads with a deep understanding of customer needs, ensuring operational priorities align with the delivery of superior product quality, on-time performance, and responsive support. Strengthens the connection between manufacturing, technical support, order entry, and aftermarket teams to ensure an exceptional end-to-end customer experience. Anticipates issues proactively and drives solutions that improve reliability, serviceability, and customer satisfaction.
• Results Focus. Consistently, in all cases, maintains focus and perseveres in the face of obstacles; inspires others to do the same. Leads a high performing team that far exceeds expectations. Shares best practices for maintaining focus and overcoming obstacles.
• Collaboration. Builds strong, trust-based partnerships across product lines, functions, and sites within CES and Dover. Encourages open communication, cross-functional problem solving, and alignment toward common business objectives. Works closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Commercial teams to ensure operational readiness and cohesive execution of business priorities.
• People Development. Creates an environment where individuals and teams can thrive. Invests time and energy in coaching, mentoring, and developing talent to build organizational capability and readiness for future growth. Recognizes and rewards performance, reinforces accountability, and cultivates engagement and ownership throughout the workforce. Models Dover's values by leading with integrity, transparency, and respect.
• Strategic Thinking. Demonstrates foresight in evaluating and implementing future automation, technology, and productivity-enhancing opportunities. Leverages data and operational insights to identify long-term improvements in process flow, labor utilization, and manufacturing scalability. Balances near-term performance with long-term strategic capability, ensuring the Livonia site remains a competitive, innovative, and efficient manufacturing center of excellence within CES.

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