Plant Manager

hireneXus; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

hireneXus seeks a Plant Manager for its Minneapolis, MN operations, overseeing a 65–70 person team and owning plant performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets. This senior leader will drive continuous improvement and operational excellence, while building bench strength and mentoring site leaders.

The role emphasizes strategic yet hands-on leadership, deploying systems that engage the floor, leveraging KPIs, and delivering scalable, reliable production with growth potential.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership of multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Proven track record of driving continuous improvement.
• Experience coaching and developing leaders on the shop floor.
• Data-driven decision making and KPI discipline.
• Ability to manage safety, quality, and production goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily plant operations including safety, quality, and production.
• Drive a culture of Continuous Improvement using Lean/TPS.
• Develop a strong manufacturing team for steel and alloy components.
• Implement an operating system that engages floor teams to identify and implement process improvements.
• Mentor supervisors and managers, ensuring bench strength.
• Refine KPIs and analytics to align with long-term company objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Excellence

Strategic thinking

Lean / CI

People development

Data-driven decisions

Job description

Our client is a well-established, full-service advanced manufacturing partner specializing in precision metal fabrication, stamping, machining, and complex assemblies. With decades of history as a reliable, long-term supplier to leading OEMs, the company has built a strong reputation across multiple industries.

The company operates as a one-source manufacturing provider, offering a fully integrated suite of capabilities — from design engineering and rapid prototyping through production, finishing, and final assembly. In-house tool and die capabilities, advanced CAD engineering, and automated fabrication processes enable tight‑tolerance components delivered with speed, consistency, and cost efficiency.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Director of Manufacturing, the Plant Manager will have full ownership and accountability for a plant's operational performance and strategy, leading a team of 65–70 people. This key senior leader will provide consistent leadership and hands‑on coaching across the organization, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, growth, and operational excellence.

Most importantly, this individual will install consistent leadership and a culture of accountability.

The ideal person for the role is a strategic thinker with a high sense of urgency, seeking growth and upwardly mobile. It is expected that this individual will have the capacity to advance quickly in the organization.

What We Need You to Do

• Lead daily operations for a single manufacturing plant in the Minneapolis, MN metro area, with responsibility for safety, quality, operations, supply chain, engineering, maintenance, scheduling, and associated processes.
• Drive a culture of Continuous Improvement — Lean, Toyota Production System, Gemba, Kaizen.
• Develop a strong manufacturing team that can efficiently manufacture and fabricate steel and alloy components for technical and industrial end markets.
• Deploy an operating system that actively engages teams on the facility floor to identify and continuously implement process improvements, teach best practices, and ensure operational excellence by streamlining processes for enhanced safety, quality, delivery, efficiency, and scalability across multiple facilities.
• Take ownership of the successful launch, industrialization, and integration of new products into manufacturing operations.
• Mentor and coach supervisors and managers, strengthening their leadership skills and alignment with the company's goals. Ensure bench strength across operations.
• Refine and leverage KPIs and analytics, improve current methods, processes, and productivity to define strategies that align with long‑term company objectives.

Core Competencies

• Operational Excellence: Strong manufacturing IQ with expertise in process development, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Leadership Prowess: Demonstrated ability to develop and motivate operational teams and a culture of winning.
• Strategic and Tactical Leadership: Proven ability to generate impactful ideas, develop strategies, and execute with a hands‑on, player/coach approach.
• Transformation and Growth: Skilled in identifying business needs, understanding strategic goals, and leading transformative initiatives to drive organizational growth in a fast‑paced environment.
• Data-Driven Leadership: Adept at leveraging metrics and data analytics to guide decision‑making and measure performance.
• High Energy and Resilience: Demonstrates a high level of energy, adaptability, and risk tolerance with a bias for action to thrive in dynamic and fast‑paced environments.
• Value Creation Mindset & Growth Orientation: Ability to operate with a strong value creation mindset, driving strategic growth initiatives with maximum efficiency. Skilled in scaling operations and optimizing performance to enhance business outcomes.
• Market Compliance Processes: Capability of successfully leading growth and new products in highly regulated industries requiring strict compliance requirements.

Qualifications & Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong manufacturing leadership experience in multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to oversee operations at the plant level.
• Experience leading teams with consistent leadership and coaching to drive performance and operational improvements.
• Demonstrated success in driving operational improvements and optimizing performance across multiple facilities.
• Willingness to engage directly on the facility floor, identify inefficiencies, teach best practices, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Focused on leveraging automation, new technologies, and data‑driven decisions to drive operational efficiencies and improve company performance.
• High energy, resilience, and a relentless drive to tackle challenges, improve processes, and inspire teams.
• Ability to mentor and develop leaders at all levels, particularly through hands‑on coaching and direct involvement in daily operations.
• Able to identify areas of misunderstanding and take the time to teach and guide others through process improvement, including using tools like value stream mapping to drive operational excellence.
• Proven dedication to leading through critical periods and ensuring success, measured by tangible results rather than hours worked.