Plant Manager

Tarter Farm and Ranch; Middleburg (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarter Farm and Ranch seeks a Plant Manager to lead a metals fabrication facility in a fast-paced environment. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and growth while fostering accountability and continuous improvement across shifts.

The role requires strong leadership, hands-on management, and expertise in lean methods to optimize production, workforce development, and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field.
• 8–10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5+ years in plant or senior operations leadership.
• Experience in metals manufacturing, machining, fabrication, or heavy industrial environments strongly preferred.
• Experience managing manufacturing operations and sales of farm equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, quality, shipping, safety and sales.
• Ensure consistent standards across all shifts and drive KPI performance.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Lead safety initiatives and maintain OSHA compliance.
• Coach and develop supervisors, managers, and hourly staff.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Communication

Hands-on leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations

Job description

Plant Manager

Location: Green River Gate
Industry: Metals Fabrication
Reports To: Chief Manufacturing Officer

Facility: Day shift manufacturing plant / 5 days a week

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and operational success of a metals fabrication facility.. This role drives safety, quality, delivery, cost performance, and commercial sales while building a strong culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.

The Plant Manager provides strategic and hands-on leadership to ensure efficient plant operations, workforce development, and sustainable growth while meeting customer expectations and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, quality, shipping, safety and sales.
• Ensure effective management of maintaining consistent standards across all shifts.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to support growth, productivity, and efficiency.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including safety, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, and on-time delivery.

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety-first culture across the facility.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Lead safety initiatives and continuous improvement efforts to reduce workplace incidents.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, managers, and hourly employees.
• Build a culture of accountability, engagement, and teamwork.
• Partner with Human Resources on hiring, workforce planning, employee relations, and training initiatives.
• Ensure strong leadership coverage and communication across all shifts.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve production processes, quality systems, and workflow.
• Lead problem-solving initiatives to address operational challenges.

Quality & Customer Satisfaction

• Ensure products meet quality standards and customer specifications.
• Work closely with quality teams to address defects, implement corrective actions, and drive quality improvements.

Financial Performance

• Manage plant budgets, labor costs, and operational expenses.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining product quality and delivery performance.
• Support capital planning and equipment investments to support growth.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering, supply chain, and leadership teams to meet production goals and customer demands.
• Support new product launches, process improvements, and operational scalability.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field is a plus.

Experience

• 8–10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5+ years in plant or senior operations leadership role preferred.
• Experience in metals manufacturing, machining, fabrication, or heavy industrial environments strongly preferred.
• Experience managing manufacturing operations.
• Experience with sales of farm and ranch equipment

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Ability to lead in a hands-on, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and leadership presence.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• A strong safety culture with proactive hazard identification.
• Consistent production performance across all shifts.
• Engaged workforce with strong frontline leadership.
• Improved efficiency, reduced scrap, and operational cost control.
• Scalable processes supporting the plant’s continued growth.

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to lead a growing manufacturing facility.
• Ability to make a visible impact on operations and culture.
• Collaborative leadership team and strong business momentum