Plant Manager

Lucas James Talent Partners; Dothan (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Client in Alabama seeks an experienced Plant Manager to lead a high-volume manufacturing facility in Dothan. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial performance, while shaping strategy and daily operations to meet customer expectations.

Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will oversee production, planning, maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives, build a strong leadership team, manage budgets, and ensure regulatory and quality standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5+ years in a senior manufacturing leadership role managing multiple functional areas.
• Experience leading large manufacturing teams in a high-volume production environment.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct all plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial objectives.
• Develop and execute operating plans aligned with corporate strategy and annual business goals.
• Monitor plant performance using KPIs and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Optimize manufacturing processes to maximize productivity while minimizing waste and operating costs.
• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Achieve established financial objectives including productivity, labor efficiency, inventory management, and cost reduction.
• Identify and justify capital investment opportunities supporting growth, regulatory compliance, automation, and operational improvements.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Budgeting

Data-driven decisions

Communication

ERP/MRP

Continuous Improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing/Operations Management

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client, a privately held, national provider of signage, brand implementation, and facility maintenance services is seeking a Plant Manager in Dothan, AL. The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, and profitability of the manufacturing facility. Reporting to the Vice President of Manufacturing, this position provides strategic and operational direction for production, planning, purchasing, maintenance, quality, and environmental health and safety (EHS) achieve business objectives.

The Plant Manager drives a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and operational excellence while ensuring customer expectations are met through efficient and cost-effective manufacturing operations.

Reporting Relationship Reports To:

Vice President, Operations and Manufacturing

Key Internal & External Relationships The Plant Manager works closely with:

• Vice President of Operations and Manufacturing
• Production Managers and Supervisors
• Planning and Scheduling
• Purchasing and Supply Chain
• Sales and Customer Service

Corporate Leadership Maintains regular communication with suppliers, customers, regulatory agencies, and external business partners as required.

Essential Responsibilities Safety & Environmental Leadership:

• Champion a culture of safety by promoting employee engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement in workplace safety.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and company safety policies.
• Lead efforts to eliminate workplace incidents through proactive risk identification and corrective actions.

Operational Leadership:

• Direct all plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial objectives.
• Develop and execute operating plans aligned with corporate strategy and annual business goals.
• Monitor plant performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Optimize manufacturing processes to maximize productivity while minimizing waste and operating costs.
• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Achieve established financial objectives including productivity, labor efficiency, inventory management, and cost reduction.
• Identify and justify capital investment opportunities supporting growth, regulatory compliance, automation, and operational improvements.

Quality & Customer Focus:

• Ensure all products meet company quality standards and customer requirements.
• Foster a culture of quality ownership throughout the organization.
• Lead initiatives that improve customer satisfaction through operational performance and continuous improvement.

Leadership & Talent Development :

• Build and lead a high-performing management team through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and professional development.
• Foster employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and ownership at all organizational levels.
• Partner with Human Resources on talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, compensation recommendations, and workforce planning.
• Promote open communication and employee involvement in achieving business objectives.

Strategic Planning :

• Contribute to the development and execution of strategic business plans.
• Align plant objectives with organizational priorities and long-term growth initiatives.
• Support new product introductions, capacity planning, and operational scalability.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and applicable quality standards.
• Maintain adherence to company values, ethical business practices, and corporate governance.
• Ensure all operational documentation, procedures, and records are maintained accurately.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement through employee involvement, data-driven decision-making, and standardized processes.
• Utilize performance metrics to identify opportunities for operational improvements.
• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
• Support organizational initiatives and acquisition integration efforts as needed.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior manufacturing leadership role managing multiple functional areas.
• Experience leading large manufacturing teams in a high-volume production environment.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Proven ability to drive operational excellence and financial performance.
• Excellent business acumen and strategic thinking.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chain, quality systems, and production planning.
• Experience managing budgets and capital projects.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels.
• Proficient in ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to analyze manufacturing metrics and implement data-driven improvements.

Decision-Making Authority

The Plant Manager has broad authority to make operational decisions affecting plant performance, employee management, production schedules, capital expenditures (within approved limits), safety, quality, and customer service. The position operates with a high degree of independence while maintaining alignment with corporate objectives and strategic direction.

Success Measures

Performance will be evaluated based on achievement of key business objectives, including:

• Safety performance (TRIR, lost-time incidents)
• Quality metrics (scrap, rework, customer complaints)