Plant Manager

ZSG; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ZSG in Columbus, OH seeks a strategic Plant Manager to build the future operating model for a growing manufacturing business. The role leads a 60-person operation and partners with the President and executive team to scale systems, leadership, processes, and culture.

The successful candidate will implement Lean transformation, develop the plant leadership team, and drive capacity, throughput, quality, and profitability while shaping CapEx and plant layout for future expansion and possible

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership.
• 5+ years leading multiple functional departments.
• Experience in metal fabrication, welding, machining, industrial manufacturing, or engineered products preferred.
• Strong Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma / Continuous Improvement background.
• Proven success transforming or scaling manufacturing operations.
• Strong financial acumen with P&L, budgets, CapEx, KPIs, inventory, labor, and profitability.
• Ability to develop supervisors and department leaders.
• Experience with ISO quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Full plant leadership across Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Safety, and Shipping.
• Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, and overall operational performance.
• P&L performance, budgets, KPIs, EBITDA improvement, labor, inventory, and operating costs.
• Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Standard Work, and operational discipline.
• Throughput, OEE, downtime, scrap, rework, and labor efficiency.
• Capital projects, equipment investments, capacity planning, and facility improvements.
• Leadership development, succession planning, and organizational accountability.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma / CI

Financial acumen

Leadership development

ISO quality mgmt

Cross-functional collaboration

Metal fabrication knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering or Operations

Job description

This is not a traditional Plant Manager opportunity focused on maintaining the status quo. This is an opportunity to help build the future operating model of a growing manufacturing business.

A rapidly growing manufacturer is seeking a strategic Plant Manager to lead its Columbus operation. The facility has already grown to approximately 60 employees, with continued investment in people, equipment, capacity, and operational infrastructure.

Working directly with the President and executive leadership, this individual will have significant influence over how the operation scales—building the systems, leadership structure, processes, and culture required for the company's next stage of growth.

The Opportunity

• Lead an established 60-person manufacturing operation positioned for continued growth
• Serve as a strategic business partner to the President and executive team
• Build scalable manufacturing systems rather than simply inherit existing processes
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and operational transformation
• Develop the plant's management and supervisory team
• Drive capacity, throughput, productivity, quality, and profitability
• Influence CapEx, equipment investments, plant layout, and future capacity
• Help position the organization for continued expansion and future acquisitions
• Potential long-term path into broader multi-site operational leadership

What You'll Own

• Full plant leadership across Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Safety, and Shipping
• Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, and overall operational performance
• P&L performance, budgets, KPIs, EBITDA improvement, labor, inventory, and operating costs
• Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Standard Work, and operational discipline
• Throughput, OEE, downtime, scrap, rework, and labor efficiency
• Capital projects, equipment investments, capacity planning, and facility improvements
• Leadership development, succession planning, and organizational accountability

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership
• 5+ years leading multiple functional departments
• Experience in metal fabrication, welding, machining, industrial manufacturing, or engineered products preferred
• Strong Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma / Continuous Improvement background
• Demonstrated success transforming or scaling manufacturing operations
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L, budgets, CapEx, KPIs, inventory, labor, and profitability
• Proven ability to develop supervisors and department leaders
• Experience with ISO / quality management systems
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining connected to the manufacturing floor

Why This Role Stands Out

This position offers the opportunity to move beyond traditional plant management and become a key contributor to the company's broader growth strategy.

The right leader will have the autonomy, executive visibility, and resources to make meaningful changes—while helping transform an already growing 60-person operation into a scalable, high-performance manufacturing organization.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to build, transform, and grow a business—not simply run a plant.