Plant Manager

Gilman Partners; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Metalworking Group in Cincinnati, OH seeks a Plant Manager to lead manufacturing operations, develop high-performing teams, and drive operational excellence. You will partner across Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, HR, and more to meet safety, quality, productivity, and delivery goals.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership on the plant floor, continuous improvement, and a culture of accountability, teamwork, and cost discipline to support long-term growth.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive plant management or manufacturing leadership.
• Experience in metal fabrication, machining, or engineered products.
• Proven ability to improve productivity, throughput, quality, and cost performance.
• Experience developing supervisors and building high-performing teams.
• Strong root cause analysis and continuous improvement skills.
• Familiarity with environmental, health, and safety regulations in manufacturing.
• Strong financial acumen with KPI and cost-control experience.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day plant operations while ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and customer delivery goals are achieved.
• Drive continuous improvement in throughput, cycle times, equipment utilization, yields, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Create and maintain a culture focused on environmental compliance, workplace safety, and incident-free operations.
• Develop supervisors and manufacturing personnel while building organizational depth and leadership capability.
• Improve operational efficiency through manpower planning, equipment utilization, and cost management.
• Monitor KPIs and financial performance while identifying trends and implementing corrective actions.
• Lead root cause investigations and drive permanent corrective actions for operational challenges.
• Partner with Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, and Human Resources to support objectives and customer satisfaction.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles, process improvements, and operational best practices.

Skills

Plant management

Engineering degree

5+ years leadership

Metal fabrication experience

Productivity improvement

Team development

Root cause analysis

Process improvement

EHS knowledge

Financial acumen

Manufacturing systems

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field

Tools

Manufacturing systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Are you a manufacturing leader who enjoys balancing strategy with hands-on execution in a fast-paced production environment?
• Do you thrive on improving productivity, safety, quality, and operational performance while developing high-performing teams?
• Are you excited by the opportunity to lead a growing manufacturing operation where you can make a direct impact on performance, culture, and long-term success?

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Metalworking Group is a privately held precision manufacturing company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since acquiring Techni-Fab Metal Products in 1982, the company has grown through strategic acquisitions to become a trusted manufacturing partner for OEM customers across North America and Europe. MWG specializes in precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, robotic welding, laser cutting, and engineered manufacturing solutions while continuing to invest in technology, people, and operational excellence.

As the company continues to grow, MWG is seeking a Plant Manager to lead manufacturing operations, develop high-performing teams, and drive the next phase of operational excellence.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations, the Plant Manager will provide leadership for all manufacturing operations while ensuring the facility consistently meets safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and financial objectives.

This leader will oversee daily plant operations while developing supervisors and employees, improving manufacturing performance, optimizing equipment utilization, reducing costs, and building systems that support future growth.

Success in this role will require a highly visible leader who enjoys spending time on the production floor while partnering across Operations, Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, Human Resources, and Purchasing to ensure customer expectations are consistently exceeded.

This role will help foster a culture centered around:

• Safety
• Accountability
• Teamwork
• Operational Excellence

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all day-to-day plant operations while ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and customer delivery goals are achieved.
• Drive continuous improvement in throughput, cycle times, equipment utilization, yields, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Create and maintain a culture focused on environmental compliance, workplace safety, and incident-free operations.
• Develop supervisors and manufacturing personnel while building organizational depth and leadership capability.
• Improve operational efficiency through effective manpower planning, equipment utilization, and cost management.
• Monitor KPIs and financial performance while identifying trends and implementing corrective actions.
• Lead root cause investigations and drive permanent corrective actions for operational challenges.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, and Human Resources to support business objectives and customer satisfaction.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles, process improvements, and operational best

IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive plant management or manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations within a metal fabrication, machining, industrial manufacturing, or engineered products environment preferred.
• Proven ability to improve productivity, throughput, quality, cost performance, and overall plant performance.
• Experience developing supervisors and building high-performing manufacturing teams.
• Strong understanding of root cause analysis, manufacturing processes, equipment troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with environmental, health, and safety regulations within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operational performance through KPIs and cost controls.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems.

OUR COMMITMENT TO CANDIDATES

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a hands-on manufacturing leader who enjoys being on the plant floor, coaching supervisors, solving operational challenges, and building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The role requires close collaboration across multiple departments while balancing day-to-day execution with long-term operational strategy. Occasional off-hours and weekend support may be required based on production demands.