Plant Manager

StaffBright; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

StaffBright in Detroit seeks an experienced Plant Manager to lead operations at a Tier 1 automotive supplier. The role requires hands-on leadership to drive production, quality, safety, and cost objectives while building a high-performing team.

You will develop and execute strategies to improve productivity and profitability, manage budgets, and champion Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement across multiple shifts.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Tier 1 automotive supplier experience strongly preferred.
• Experience managing plant budgets and profitability.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement principles.
• Familiarity with IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, and automotive quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for daily plant operations ensuring production, quality, safety, delivery, and cost objectives are met.
• Oversee production, maintenance, quality, engineering, materials, and other plant functions.
• Develop and execute operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, profitability, and overall performance.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to production output, labor efficiency, downtime, scrap, on-time delivery, and costs.
• Lead, mentor, and develop plant leadership and staff across all shifts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, and related methodologies.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and optimize processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and production teams to resolve challenges and improve equipment reliability.
• Ensure production schedules and customer delivery requirements are met.
• Oversee capacity planning, equipment utilization, and capital improvement initiatives.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

Operational Excellence

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Cross-functional Collaboration

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Plant Manager to lead operations for an established Tier 1 automotive supplier. This individual will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of plant operations, including production, quality, safety, maintenance, continuous improvement, financial performance, and employee development.

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader with a strong background in automotive manufacturing, a proven ability to drive operational excellence, and experience managing teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for daily plant operations, ensuring production, quality, safety, delivery, and cost objectives are consistently achieved.
• Oversee production, maintenance, quality, engineering, materials, and other plant functions.
• Develop and execute operational strategies to improve plant productivity, efficiency, profitability, and overall performance.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to production output, labor efficiency, downtime, scrap, on-time delivery, and operating costs.
• Lead, mentor, and develop plant leadership, supervisors, and production personnel to build a high-performing team.
• Ensure effective workforce planning, staffing, training, and employee accountability across all departments and shifts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle times, increase equipment utilization, and optimize manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and production teams to resolve operational challenges and improve equipment reliability.
• Ensure production schedules and customer delivery requirements are consistently met.
• Oversee manufacturing capacity planning, equipment utilization, and capital improvement initiatives.

Quality & Customer Satisfaction

• Ensure compliance with automotive industry quality standards, including IATF 16949 and applicable customer-specific requirements.
• Partner with quality leadership to drive defect reduction, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous quality improvement.
• Maintain strong relationships with automotive OEM and Tier 1 customers, ensuring expectations for quality, delivery, and responsiveness are achieved.
• Support customer audits, quality reviews, product launches, and corrective action initiatives.

Financial & Business Performance

• Manage plant operating budgets, labor costs, capital expenditures, and overall financial performance.
• Drive cost-reduction strategies while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.
• Monitor plant profitability, manufacturing variances, and operational expenses.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, performance objectives, and improvement initiatives.
• Provide regular operational and financial performance updates to executive leadership.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture throughout the facility, ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Lead initiatives to reduce workplace incidents, improve employee engagement, and maintain a safe working environment.
• Ensure compliance with applicable environmental, regulatory, and operational standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including significant plant operations management responsibility.
• Previous experience as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or similar senior manufacturing leader.
• Tier 1 automotive supplier experience strongly preferred, with a solid understanding of automotive OEM requirements and manufacturing standards.
• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations and managing cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and operational excellence principles.
• Familiarity with IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, and automotive quality management systems.
• Experience managing plant budgets, controlling operating costs, and driving profitability.
• Strong understanding of production planning, supply chain management, maintenance, and manufacturing engineering.
• Proven ability to improve operational KPIs, including productivity, scrap, downtime, safety, and on-time delivery.
• Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Experience working in a multi-shift manufacturing environment preferred.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a highly visible, hands-on leader who is equally comfortable on the plant floor and in strategic operational discussions. This individual will have a track record of developing strong leadership teams, improving manufacturing performance, driving accountability, and delivering measurable business results.

We are seeking someone who can take ownership of plant performance, proactively solve problems, and foster a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.