Plant Manager

Smardt; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + annual bonus

100% employer-paid medical and dental

Tele-Health services

Retirement savings plan with employer

Team events and training

Job summary

Smardt is seeking a Plant Manager to lead the startup and eventual operation of the Phoenix manufacturing facility. You will build the plant organization, implement world-class manufacturing practices, and guide production, maintenance, and quality through the ramp-up to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets.

The role requires strong leadership, Lean manufacturing expertise, and a track record in Greenfield/Brownfield projects within HVAC or complex assembly environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience
• 5+ years in a Plant Manager or equivalent leadership role
• Experience with Greenfield/Brownfield startups and HVAC/assembly environments

Responsibilities

• Lead site startup and commissioning of the Phoenix facility.
• Define facility layout, equipment needs, and production line setup.
• Oversee construction, utilities, and EHS readiness.
• Recruitment planning for all plant functions.
• Establish procedures for production flow, safety, movement of materials, and shopfloor control.
• Collaborate with Corporate Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to meet Smardt global standards.
• Install and validate machinery, tooling and ERP systems (NAV/BC or equivalent).
• Ensure regulatory compliance and create initial budget and KPIs.

Skills

Strong leadership

Lean manufacturing

ERP systems

Analytical problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

NAV/Business Central

Manufacturing dashboards

Job description

About SMARDT

As a global pioneer in oil-free centrifugal chiller technology with an expanding portfolio of thermal management solutions, Smardt is dedicated to delivering high-efficiency and energy-saving systems for industries, real estate developments, health care and educational centers worldwide.

We operate manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, Germany, China, and Australia, with a team of over 900 employees. With a focus on reliability, performance, and environmental stewardship, Smardt continues to redefine industry standards through advanced engineering and a commitment to a more sustainable future.

What We're Looking For:

The Plant Manager will lead the startup and operational launch of Smardt's new Phoenix manufacturing facility, ensuring the successful establishment of all production, quality, safety, and support systems.

This role is responsible for building the entire plant organization from the ground up, implementing world‑class manufacturing practices, and ensuring a smooth transition from project phase to steady‑state operations. Once operational, the Plant Manager will oversee all aspects of production, maintenance, engineering, and continuous improvement to achieve cost, quality, and delivery goals.

What You'll Do:

Startup / Brownfield Phase

• Lead the site startup and commissioning of the Phoenix manufacturing facility.
• Define the facility layout, equipment requirements, and production line setup aligned with product portfolio and future capacity.
• Oversee construction, utilities, and EHS compliance to ensure readiness for manufacturing operations.
• Develop and execute the recruitment plan for all plant functions (production, quality, engineering, logistics, maintenance, etc.).
• Establish all operational procedures, including production flow, safety standards, material movement, and shopfloor control.
• Collaborate with Corporate Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure alignment with Smardt global standards.
• Drive the installation and validation of machinery, tooling, and ERP systems (NAV/Business Central or equivalent).
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations for environmental, health, and safety.
• Create the initial budget, KPIs, and headcount plan for plant operations.
• Supporting role to PMO during project execution phase
• TICA technology/process transfer; localization strategy; launch/ramp governance; product compliance/quality readiness; capital/project budget responsibility; and S&OP/capacity alignment.

Operational Phase

• Lead all plant operations, including production, maintenance, quality, materials, and EHS.
• Become the site owner once operational phase starts.
• Ensure achievement of production targets, safety performance, delivery reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement programs.
• Build and maintain a high-performance team culture focused on accountability and results.
• Partner with HR to ensure ongoing training, performance management, and leadership development.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Monitor KPIs (Conversion Cost, OTD, FPY, Safety, Productivity, Scrap, Inventory Turns).
• Act as the key liaison with corporate and executive teams for reporting, compliance, and strategic alignment.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with TICA and Smardt global Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality teams to enable effective product and manufacturing knowledge transfer to the Phoenix facility.
• Work closely with the SmardtAir Commercial team to align production capacity, customer requirements, order pipeline and delivery commitments.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement and Materials teams to ensure material availability, supplier readiness, inventory strategy and progressive localization of the supply base.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Quality to ensure product industrialization, manufacturing readiness, product compliance and successful introduction of new products and configurations.
• Partner with HR, EHS, Finance and other corporate functions to ensure workforce, safety, financial and operational systems are established and scaled in line with the plant ramp-up plan.
• Act as the primary site interface between Phoenix 2 and Smardt/TICA leadership, ensuring clear communication of startup milestones, risks, resource requirements and operational performance.
• Other tasks as appropriate

What You'll Bring

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong leadership and organizational development skills.
• Demonstrated experience building teams and systems from zero.
• Excellent understanding of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and Continuous Improvement.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, startup environment.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and manufacturing metrics dashboards.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, or a related technical field (Master’s preferred).
• Proven experience in Greenfield / Brownfield and plant startup projects, preferably in HVAC (Air Handling Units), metal fabrication, or complex assembly manufacturing.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, including 5+ years in a leadership role as Plant Manager or equivalent.

Physical Requirments:

• Must be able to walk, stand, and inspect shopfloor environments daily.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs may be required.
• Must comply with all plant safety and PPE requirements

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary + annual performance bonus
• 100% employer‑paid medical and dental benefits as of day 1!
• Tele-Health service paid by the employer.
• Retirement savings plan with employer contributions up to 6%
• Dynamic team within a high‑growth company
• Company events and team‑building activities
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

All job offers at Smardt are conditional to successful background and reference checks, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Please note that Smardt does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Services Agreement with agency/recruiter, we will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee.

Equal Employment Opportunity

SMARDT is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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