Plant Manager

Harvard Group International; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard Group International is seeking a strategic Plant Manager to lead a Chicago-area manufacturing facility, owning production, safety, quality, scheduling, and financial performance while translating strategy into disciplined site execution.

The ideal candidate will build leadership, improve flow with Lean and TOC, use data dashboards to drive action, and scale an automotive-like fabrication and assembly operation in a unionized environment.

Qualifications

• Proven plant manager with full-site responsibility.
• Experience building processes and leadership capability in evolving manufacturing environments.
• Applied knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, continuous flow, root cause analysis, and structured problem solving.
• Ability to use data, dashboards, and performance metrics to drive action.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant operations across production, labor, safety, quality, scheduling, delivery, cost, and execution.
• Translate manufacturing strategy into clear priorities, operating plans, ownership, and measurable results.
• Improve flow, throughput, labor utilization, capacity, quality, and financial performance using Lean and Theory of Constraints.
• Use plant data and dashboards to identify systemic issues and establish actionable priorities.
• Build effective processes and accountability systems while developing managers, supervisors, and team leads.
• Partner with Sales, Project Management, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and senior leadership.
• Build workforce credibility while operating effectively in a union-represented environment.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Theory of Constraints

Data-driven decisions

Leadership development

Union experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

APQP/PPAP knowledge

FMEA

Control plans

SPC

Job description

The Plant Manager will lead a highly visible Chicago-area manufacturing facility within a growing industrial organization. This individual will own production, labor, quality, safety, scheduling, delivery, and financial performance while translating broader manufacturing strategy into disciplined site execution.

The successful candidate will be a strategic, hands-on plant builder who can improve flow, establish operating discipline, develop leaders, and scale a mixed-mode fabrication and assembly operation using data, Lean principles, Theory of Constraints, and practical business acumen.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead plant operations across production, labor, safety, quality, scheduling, delivery, cost, and execution.
• Translate manufacturing strategy into clear priorities, operating plans, ownership, and measurable results.
• Improve flow, throughput, labor utilization, capacity, quality, and financial performance using Lean and Theory of Constraints.
• Use plant data and dashboards to identify systemic issues and establish actionable priorities.
• Build effective processes and accountability systems while developing managers, supervisors, and team leads.
• Partner with Sales, Project Management, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and senior leadership.
• Build workforce credibility while operating effectively in a union-represented environment.

REQUIREMENTS

• Proven Plant Manager experience with full-site responsibility and measurable operating results.
• Experience building processes and leadership capability in an evolving or under-resourced manufacturing environment.
• Applied knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, continuous flow, root cause analysis, and structured problem solving.
• Ability to use data, dashboards, and performance metrics to drive action.
• Fabrication and assembly experience; automotive or Tier 2 supplier experience is particularly attractive.
• Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plans, SPC, launch validation, and permanent corrective action.
• Union experience is preferred but not required; sound employee-relations judgment is essential.

COMPENSATION

A competitive compensation package will be developed for the successful candidate, including base salary, performance-based incentive, and comprehensive benefits.