Plant Manager

MAHLE; Murfreesboro (TN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

MAHLE in Murfreesboro, TN, is seeking a Manufacturing Leader to drive end-to-end site operations and strategic initiatives. The role oversees HSE culture, productivity, and capital optimization, with P&L accountability and a mandate to deliver results through lean leadership and team development.

The successful candidate will guide cross-functional teams, implement continuous improvement programs, and partner with MAHLE senior leadership to shape a long-range plan for the plant's growth and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in production operations management, engineering, business, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 20 years of progressive experience in Tier 1 automotive manufacturing; plant leadership experience required.
• Proven track record turning around a challenged manufacturing plant and delivering results.
• Strong P&L acumen and executive presence to interact with MAHLE senior leadership.
• Seven+ years of facilitation/leadership with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee overall operational responsibility for site health, safety, environmental culture, and capital optimization.
• Accountable for P&L and achieving operational targets.
• Lead establishment and execution of long-range strategic plans for Murfreesboro plant.
• Create roadmaps for Operations, Operational Excellence & Logistics to boost productivity and customer satisfaction.
• Drive Lean Six Sigma initiatives and change management across cross-functional teams.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Change Management

Lean Six Sigma

P&L Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree & MBA preferred

Tools

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Job description

Are You a Manufacturing Leader Ready to Make a Bigger Impact? Then MAHLE is looking for you! New opening for MAHLE in Murfreesboro, TN. (Open for Domestic Relocation Assistance)

Together, we move the world—we’ve been doing for over 100 years. At MAHLE, as a leading international development partner and systems supplier to the automotive industry, we pursue the objective of making mobility more efficient, more environmentally friendly, more convenient, and more economical. As part of our dual strategy, we are working both on the intelligent combustion engine for the use of hydrogen and other nonfossil fuels and on technologies for fuel cells and e-mobility.

MAHLE generated sales of €11.3 billion in 2025. Employing just under 65,000 people at 127 production locations and 11 technology centers, the company is represented in 28 countries. (as at: 12/31/2025). Join our MAHLE team! #weshapefuturemobility

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

• Embrace the MAHLE Leadership Principles:
• Empower with accountability: Own mistakes and practice continual learning. Foster autonomy and development.
• Trust each other: Practice collaboration and communicate in an honest and authentic way. Utilize differences to make us stronger.
• Inspire for change: Create enthusiasm for MAHLE’s future by establishing an environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship. Lead by example: Make and keep commitments. Receive feedback before giving feedback.
• Strive to create an inclusive environment in which employees are valued and respected.
• Take ownership of talent management practices within the team. This includes, but is not limited to, diversity, equity and inclusion, learning and development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Overall operational responsibility for all aspects of the site including Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) culture, footprint and capital optimization, PDP, Quality Targets, Performance Lift, Staffing & Retention.
• Responsible for the P&L and operational targets;
• Assist with the establishment & execution of the strategic long-range plan while also identifying and supporting short term objectives for Murfreesboro plant.
• Define future state Shared Plant Template for organizational design and implementation playbook based on lessons learned. Work to identify and remove system and process topics that would prohibit a ONEMAHLE operation at the site.
• Create roadmaps for Operations, Operational Excellence & Logistics which includes a comprehensive analysis and prioritization of key opportunities regarding sustainable increases in productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction across a range of business processes and functions for the region. Assist with the analysis and prioritization of key opportunities for locations, including areas outside of direct scope (Engineering, Purchasing, Controlling, HR). As needed, include and engage cross functional & cross Business Unit members at all levels of the organization to execute initiatives that will drive sustainable results.
• Work closely with Executive Staff, including Plant Managers, to drive and foster a cultural transformation through the business by building effective matrix teams and driving involvement and talent multiplication to deliver successful business outcomes.
• Oversee the development key performance indicators (KPIs). Manage escalated issues related to manufacturing, logistics & operational excellence.
• Lead strategic, complex process improvement projects.
• Accountable for delivering strategic results from the application of Lean/Six Sigma methodologies and effective change management.
• Support the development of a wide variety of improvement initiatives, workshops and projects designed to improve throughput time, flexibility, quality and value utilizing lean techniques such as Kaizen, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED), 8-D, Problem Solving and Value Analysis which result in significant efficiency improvements for the facility.
• Maintain a culture which supports disciplined & systematic process management, has data driven decision making & where continuous improvement is aligned with established strategy & objectives.
• Serve as a leader of change and innovation. Challenge status quo, effectively influence others (at all levels of the organization) to embrace change, overcome resistance and seek out outstanding ideas and implement.
• Establish measurement systems where needed to identify opportunities and to quantify implemented improvements.
• All other duties and projects assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in production operations management, Engineering, Business or related discipline is required; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 20 years of progressive experiencing in Tier 1 automotive manufacturing. Plant experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading the turn‑around of a formerly challenged manufacturing plant is required.
• Proven track record of building and inspiring teams to perform at a higher level and driving a culture of performance and accountability without alienating the workforce. Track record for delivering strategic results and executing effective management changes. Well-developed leadership and project management capabilities with demonstrated success in completing core-business, cross-functional and cross-cultural projects is required.
• Strong foundational knowledge of the P&L.
• Executive presence and confidence to be effective in this highly visible position in which visits from MAHLE senior executives, including the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and other C-suite executives are routine.
• High energy, results-driven, determined, and flexible, with a strong and disciplined work ethic. Sets a quick pace and constantly raises the bar and presses the organization towards higher levels of achievement.
• A ‘working leader’ who is prepared to ‘get their hands dirty’ when required and to lead from the front. Possess a strong desire to develop his/her team both individually and collectively at every opportunity.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to influence and build credibility as a "peer" with Global Functions and Region.
• Must have a minimum of 7+ of facilitation/leadership experience, in which several of the following abilities have been demonstrated:
• Building executive-level customer relationships and responding to strategic business needs.
• Managing resources to meet goals across multiple products/programs.
• Leading multidisciplinary, high-performance teams.
• Excellent vision regarding benchmarking and year-over-year progress is fundamental to this role.
• Ability to provide decisive leadership and team facilitation in the face of adversity for escalated topics is required, including identifying root cause, action plan required, coordinating resources, and executing a go-forward plan to successful resolution.
• Proven understanding & successful application of Continuous Improvement tools and methodologies including Lean and Six Sigma.
• Ability to demonstrate a total commitment to very high standards of integrity and business ethics.
• Ability to handle projects with multiple workstreams, with proven leadership success over a wide variety of business problems.
• Proven planning abilities, including successful execution of such plans.
• Must have strong initiative and the ability to work well in a team environment.
• Proven success operating in a high ambiguity environment is required.
• Six Sigma Greenbelt or Blackbelt Certification is preferred.
• Global or multi-national business experience is a plus.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Domestic/international travel with/without overnight stay will be required.

OUR OFFER

We will provide a collaborative environment working on exciting assignments, along with ongoing personal & career development opportunities.

#DiversityMatters with our inclusive culture, we welcome applications from all social, religious & ethnical backgrounds, disabilities both mental and physical, identities (gender) and neurodivergent people.

MAHLE is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment-based non-immigrant and immigrant visas. However, as a global company, MAHLE offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S. which can be found through our employment website www.jobs.mahle.com