Plant Manager

Capstone Search Advisors; Clarion (Clarion County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Capstone Search Advisors is seeking a Production Manager to lead a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing operation. The role emphasizes lean and continuous improvement, developing top teams, and driving sustainable performance across quality, delivery, and cost.

The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking with visible shop-floor leadership, using data-driven decisions to navigate changes in demand and product mix while maintaining safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 8-10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading operations in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong background in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Proven track record delivering measurable productivity, quality, and delivery improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for plant operations.
• Build and lead a high-performing cross-functional team.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Develop frontline leaders and managers through coaching and mentoring.
• Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and sustainable adoption of new processes.
• Oversee daily production in a complex, make-to-order environment.
• Optimize scheduling, capacity, and workforce deployment.
• Drive improvements in schedule adherence, lead times, and throughput.
• Implement and sustain lean tools (5S, standard work, visual management, value stream mapping).
• Develop robust daily management systems and escalation processes.
• Partner with planning, supply chain, engineering, and customer teams to manage priorities.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Leadership

Operations management

Change management

Data-driven decision making

Problem solving

Team development

Strategic thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering/Industrial Engineering/Operations Management

Job description

We are seeking a results-driven, hands-on Production Manager to lead all aspects of manufacturing operations in a high-mix, low-volume production environment. This individual will be a proven operational leader with a strong background in continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and organizational change management.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of transforming manufacturing operations, developing high-performing teams, improving operational efficiency, and delivering sustainable business results. They will bring a strategic mindset combined with a strong shop-floor presence, using data-driven decision-making, structured problem-solving, and employee engagement to drive a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.

Success in this role requires the ability to manage complexity, respond effectively to changing customer demands, optimize resources across diverse product lines, and lead the organization through operational and cultural change.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for plant operations, ensuring alignment with company objectives and long-term business goals.
• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing team across production, quality, engineering, maintenance, materials, and other supporting functions.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and ownership at all levels of the organization.
• Develop frontline leaders and managers through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of employee engagement, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead organizational change initiatives, effectively communicating the vision, building buy-in, and ensuring sustainable adoption of new processes and behaviors.
• Maintain a visible presence on the shop floor, engaging employees and addressing operational challenges directly.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Champion a continuous improvement culture throughout the plant, embedding lean principles and problem-solving methodologies into daily operations.
• Lead initiatives focused on improving productivity, throughput, labor efficiency, lead times, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness where applicable.
• Implement and sustain lean manufacturing tools, including 5S, standard work, visual management, value stream mapping, Kaizen events, root cause analysis, and structured corrective action.
• Identify and eliminate waste, bottlenecks, non-value-added activities, and process variation.
• Establish robust daily management systems, tiered accountability meetings, visual performance boards, and escalation processes.
• Use data and key performance indicators to identify improvement opportunities, prioritize resources, and measure results.
• Ensure improvements deliver measurable, sustainable gains rather than short-term fixes.
• Develop internal continuous improvement capabilities by engaging employees at every level in identifying and implementing solutions.

High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing Execution

• Oversee daily production operations in a complex manufacturing environment characterized by diverse product configurations, variable demand, frequent changeovers, and evolving customer requirements.
• Optimize production scheduling, capacity utilization, labor deployment, and workflow to meet customer delivery commitments.
• Develop flexible manufacturing strategies that balance responsiveness, efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Improve production flow through effective routing, setup reduction, constraint management, and work-center optimization.
• Partner with planning, supply chain, engineering, and customer-facing teams to manage priorities, material availability, engineering changes, and schedule disruptions.
• Establish clear processes for managing changing priorities while minimizing unnecessary disruption to production.
• Drive improvements in schedule adherence, on-time delivery, manufacturing lead time, work-in-process inventory, and throughput.
• Ensure appropriate standardization without sacrificing the flexibility required to support a diverse product portfolio.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Establish and maintain a strong safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with applicable safety regulations, company policies, and environmental requirements.
• Maintain high standards of product quality and process control while reducing scrap, rework, defects, and customer complaints.
• Ensure effective corrective and preventive action processes, including root cause analysis and verification of corrective action effectiveness.
• Partner with quality and engineering teams to improve process capability, product reliability, and adherence to customer specifications.
• Promote employee ownership of safety and quality at every stage of production.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, customer requirements, and quality management systems.

Financial & Business Performance

• Develop and manage plant operating budgets, monitor financial performance, and implement corrective actions to address variances.
• Drive cost reduction through improved labor productivity, material utilization, equipment reliability, and process efficiency.
• Manage operating expenses, capital expenditures, and resource allocation to maximize return on investment.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators that link operational performance to business outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, capacity, and asset utilization while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.
• Support strategic planning, capital investment decisions, and long-term operational improvement initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Customer Focus

• Work closely with sales, customer service, engineering, quality, supply chain, and finance to align plant priorities with customer and business needs.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships to resolve issues, improve responsiveness, and eliminate organizational silos.
• Ensure manufacturing operations support customer expectations for quality, delivery, flexibility, and responsiveness.
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts to resolve recurring operational and customer issues.
• Communicate plant performance, risks, improvement initiatives, and resource requirements clearly to senior leadership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Typically 8-10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including significant leadership responsibility in a plant or multi-functional operations environment.
• Proven experience leading operations in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment or a similarly complex, make-to-order production setting.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, delivery performance, cost, and operational efficiency.
• Strong background in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Proven success leading significant organizational and operational change, including the ability to build employee engagement and overcome resistance.
• Experience developing leaders, building effective teams, and establishing a culture of accountability and performance.
• Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management, manufacturing processes, inventory control, and supply chain coordination.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including budgeting, cost control, capital planning, and performance analysis.
• Knowledge of structured problem-solving methodologies, root cause analysis, and corrective action systems.

Core Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Change leadership: A proven ability to challenge the status quo, communicate a compelling vision, and translate strategy into meaningful operational change.
• Continuous improvement mindset: A relentless focus on eliminating waste, solving problems at their source, and improving processes every day.
• Results orientation: A track record of setting ambitious goals, executing improvement plans, and delivering measurable business outcomes.
• People development: The ability to build trust, coach leaders, engage employees, and develop the next generation of manufacturing talent.
• Strategic and operational thinking: The ability to balance long-term transformation with the immediate demands of daily production.
• Decisiveness and accountability: The confidence to make timely decisions, address performance gaps, and take ownership of results.
• Adaptability: The ability to manage complexity, shifting priorities, and competing demands in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
• Communication and influence: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to align teams and stakeholders around shared objectives.
• Data-driven problem solving: The ability to use operational data, structured analysis, and fact-based decision-making to drive improvement.
• Shop-floor leadership: A hands-on, visible leadership style that connects with employees and translates improvement strategies into practical action.