Plant Manager

Synectics Inc.; Laurens (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Synectics Inc. in Laurens, IA seeks a hands-on Plant Manager to lead all shop floor operations at our manufacturing facility. This high-impact leadership role focuses on turning people, processes and equipment into a high-performing operation.

You will own production performance, cost control, quality, safety and on-time delivery, building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, while working with leadership on budgets and KPIs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or Industrial Management (preferred).
• 10+ years of manufacturing experience with 4+ years in senior leadership.
• Strong background in production planning, cost controls, and labor management.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven decision making.
• Clear, confident communicator at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing, quality, maintenance, and engineering functions.
• Drive production performance while controlling costs, scrap, rework, and waste.
• Ensure on-time customer orders with minimal work-in-process.
• Improve EBIT via lean initiatives and capital investments.
• Develop and execute production schedules aligned to sales capacity.
• Oversee safety, environmental compliance, housekeeping, and plant security.
• Build and lead high-performing teams through coaching and accountability.
• Partner with leadership on budgets, KPIs, staffing, and operational strategy.
• Champion continuous improvement and employee engagement.
• Serve as a visible leader on the shop floor and in the community.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Production planning

Cost controls

Labor management

Lean manufacturing

Data-driven decisions

Strong communicator

Problem solving

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business/Industrial Management

Job description

Lead the floor. Drive results. Build a winning operation.

We are seeking a hands-on, results-driven Plant Manager to lead all shop floor operations for a growing manufacturing facility. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in fast-paced production environments, loves solving complex problems, and knows how to turn people, processes, and equipment into a high-performing operation.

You will own production performance, cost control, quality, safety, and on-time delivery - while building a culture of accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Do As Plant Manager

• Lead all manufacturing, quality, maintenance, and engineering functions
• Drive production performance while controlling costs, scrap, rework, and waste
• Ensure customer orders ship on time with minimal work-in-process
• Improve EBIT through lean initiatives, productivity gains, and smart capital investments
• Develop and execute production schedules aligned to sales and capacity
• Oversee safety, environmental compliance, housekeeping, and plant security
• Build and lead high-performing teams through coaching, accountability, and communication
• Partner with leadership on budgets, KPIs, staffing, and operational strategy
• Champion continuous improvement, quality systems, and employee engagement
• Serve as a visible leader on the shop floor and in the community

How You'll Be Measured

• Profitability, productivity, cost reductions, and budget performance
• Quality metrics, warranty performance, and on-time delivery
• Safety, training, employee development, retention, and morale
• Process improvements, technology adoption, and operational efficiency

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or Industrial Management (preferred)
• 10+ years of manufacturing experience, including 4+ years in senior leadership
• Strong background in production planning, cost controls, and labor management
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills
• Comfortable using data, KPIs, and spreadsheets to drive decisions
• Clear, confident communicator at all levels

Work Environment

• Hands-on manufacturing environment
• PPE required on the shop floor
• Must be able to walk the plant, lift up to 50 lbs, and work in an industrial setting

Why This Role?

This is not a "desk" Plant Manager role. You'll have real ownership, real influence, and the ability to shape the future of the operation. If you love leading people, fixing broken processes, and driving results - this is your next career move.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s)

• Will you now or at any time in the future require employment visa sponsorship (e.g., H-1B or other work authorization sponsorship) to work for this employer?

Experience

• Manufacturing management: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location

In person