Plant Manager

Illinois Tool Works; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ITW Food Equipment Group seeks a Plant Manager for its Baltimore, MD site to lead safety, quality, inventory, delivery and productivity (SQIDP). You will drive continuous improvement, translate division priorities into actionable plant plans, and ensure accountability across operations.

Partner with Finance and Engineering to drive margin improvements, cost reductions, and capital planning while upholding ITW core values and the 80/20 framework.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to influence, lead teams, and collaborate cross-functionally while delivering results.
• Strong understanding of ITW principles (80/20, PLS, decentralized leadership) or similar operating models.
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent and build high-performing teams.
• Strong financial acumen and operational decision-making capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant performance aligned to ITW’s 80/20 Front-to-Back strategy.
• Ensure focus on high-value products, customers, and processes.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to reduce complexity and improve efficiency.
• Translate division priorities into clear, executable plant-level actions.
• Champion a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and simplification.
• Responsible for plant-level financial performance, including cost control, productivity, and budget adherence.

Skills

Leadership

Union experience

Cross-functional influence

ITW principles

Talent development

Financial acumen

Plant floor presence

Organization & time mgmt

Job description

At ITW Food Equipment Group, people and food are our passion. We believe great food brings people together, and the relationships we share feed our inspiration to be the best we can be for one another.

It is our mission to provide food equipment that foodservice and food retail professionals can trust to work hard and deliver quality, consistent results day in and day out, empowering them to focus on what they love most—creating great food for great people.

As one of the premium brands under the ITW Food Equipment Group umbrella, at Vulcan, we are dedicated to exceptional commercial cooking equipment. It’s all we do. Chefs and operators around the world recognize Vulcan as the best-in-class supplier for premier, energy-efficient foodservice equipment.

If you’re passionate about building relationships, driving growth, and representing trusted brands that help customers succeed every day — we want to meet you.

We are seeking a Plant Manager to join our Baltimore, Maryland team. As a Plant Manager you will be responsible for full site leadership and performance of the Baltimore manufacturing facility. This role has accountability for results across safety, quality, inventory, delivery, and productivity (SQIDP) and drives ITW’s enterprise strategy through focused execution, and continuous improvement applying ITW proprietary toolbox methodologies.

What You’ll Do

• Lead plant performance aligned to ITW’s 80/20 Front-to-Back strategy.
• Ensure focus on high-value products, customers, and processes.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to reduce complexity and improve efficiency.
• Translate division priorities into clear, executable plant-level actions.
• Champion a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and simplification
• Responsible for plant-level financial performance, including cost control, productivity, and budget adherence.
• Partner with Finance to implement margin improvement and cost reduction initiatives.
• Ensure disciplined allocation of resources aligned to business priorities.
• Lead capital planning and execution (safety, productivity, and growth investments)
• Drive alignment between production schedules, labor, and material availability.
• Establish accountability for schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, and supplier performance.
• Remove barriers and align resources to meet customer demand.
• Partner closely with the on-site Engineering Manager and Sustaining Engineering team
• Ensure alignment between product design, manufacturability, and operational efficiency.
• Model and reinforce our Core Values.
• Drive a safety-first culture aligned with “Every Accident is Preventable.”
• Partner with HR in a co-ownership model for employee relations, performance management, and development
• Strengthening leadership capability to drive accountability, execution, and a strong leadership pipeline
• Serve as the primary escalation point for building-related systems (security, fire protection, OSHA compliance)
• Ensure inspections, maintenance, and controls are functioning effectively.

What you Bring

• 8+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Prior leadership experience in a unionized environment
• Proven ability to influence, lead teams, and collaborate cross-functionally while consistently delivering results.
• Strong understanding of ITW principles (80/20, PLS, decentralized leadership) or similar operating models
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent and build high-performing teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions using an 80/20 mindset.
• Strong financial acumen and operational decision-making capability
• Hands‑on leadership style with strong plant floor presence
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time management skills

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Be part of a respected global company with a reputation for quality and innovation.
• Enjoy a collaborative, people‑first culture that values growth and creativity.
• Make a tangible impact with industry‑leading brands trusted by professionals worldwide.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

Additional information

ITW is an Equal Opportunity / Aff… employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions / Other Considerations:

• Plant floor and Office
• Approximately 10% travel
• Onsite at Charlotte plant
• Must be able to bend, stoop, lift 50 pounds, reach and twist to complete all job tasks.
• Must be able to wear all required PPE (i.e., safety glasses, steel/composite toe safety shoes)

Compensation Information:

The compensation package for the role offers a competitive base salary ranging from $140,000-$160,000.

ITW considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, geographic location, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.

In addition to a competitive salary, ITW employees in the U.S. are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. This package includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance programs. We also provide a 401k plan with both a company match and additional employer contribution, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Commuter benefits, Adoption Assistance, and Educational Assistance; Parental Leave, vacation, sick time and Paid Holidays.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.