Plant Manager

Specialty Ceramics, Inc.; Ohio; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkegen is seeking a senior manufacturing leader to run the Columbiana site in Ohio, directing production, maintenance, quality, and shipping while executing a growth strategy and delivering on the business plan.

You will oversee 6–12 direct reports across Production, EHS, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Maintenance & Engineering, Purchasing and Planning, with emphasis on safety, lean practices, and financial performance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership in large-scale operations.
• Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence systems.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to link operational decisions to P&L and cash flow.
• Experience implementing ISO 9001 and driving continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and coordinate all manufacturing activities at the Columbiana site.
• Direct plant operations to optimize production, maintenance, quality, and shipping.
• Lead 6–12 direct reports across Production, EHS, Quality, CI, Maintenance & Engineering, Purchasing and Planning.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive short- and long-term strategy and meet business plan commitments.
• Drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and morale improvements while ensuring talent development.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean

Six Sigma

Financial acumen

ISO 9001

P&L experience

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job Requirements Why work for us? Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. With over 60 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways. Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with globe-spanning reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we’re always looking for top talent ready to bring their best. Come grow with us!

Job Requirements: Responsible for leading operational execution and growth strategy for a manufacturing plant. The candidate is expected to perform the listed duties whilst living the Alkegen Values: Be Bold, Move Fast; Passion; and Grow.

Responsibilities:

• This role will plan, direct, and coordinate all manufacturing activities in our Columbiana site.
• Direct and manage plant operations to run production, maintenance, quality, and shipping and receiving in an optimum manner to exceed customer expectations.
• Manage manufacturing staff, typically of 6-12 direct reports, across Production, EHS, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Maintenance & Engineering, Purchasing and Planning.
• In the matrix structure, collaborate across cross-functional leadership team with Operations Staff, Supply Chain, Sales & Marketing, R&D, HR and Finance to drive short-term execution and long-term strategy to meet business plan commitments.
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost and morale while ensuring continuous improvement, talent development and innovation execution.
• Drive growth through R&D collaboration on product development and line trials, proposing/evaluating M&A opportunities, enhancing process and people technical capabilities within a site, optimizing operations to improve financial growth and create capacity.
• Develop plans, and budgets to meet financial goals, develop systems, metrics, and processes to track and optimize productivity and performance targets to ensure effective return on assets, and report out weekly and monthly.
• Implement cost effective systems of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages, and salaries.
• Manage capital asset maintenance.
• Control and minimize labor overtime and repair expenses. Variabilize labor as required to meet demand from customers while still achieving financial expectations to budget.
• Maintain existing plant facilities and equipment; replace or adjust plant facilities and equipment when necessary.
• Provide direction, training and development, and leadership to plant personnel to accomplish the company goals and objectives.
• Incorporate 5-S shop floor organization and plant cleanliness among plant personnel.
• Champion safety, health, and environmental issues.
• Maintain good working Union/management relationships, including leading labor management meetings and participating in grievance resolutions.
• Perform other duties or special projects as required or as assigned.
• Remain in compliance with facility ISO, IATF, and/or TS standards and all HSE guidelines.
• Must adhere to all company and location policies and safety rules
• Must be able to work extended hours when required
• Some travel as required
• All other duties as assigned

10+ years of manufacturing leadership, including large-scale operations management Strong record of delivering results across multiple key performance indicators in a complex or matrixed environment Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; Master’s preferred Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence systems Strong financial acumen, able to see cause and effect between operational decisions and financial outcomes; solid understanding of the impact of operating metrics on income statement, and cash flow. Prior P&L experience is required Experience with ISO 9001 systems implementation and compliance. Demonstrates strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire, engage, and hold teams accountable. Highly analytical and data-driven; able to interpret metrics and results and drive fact-based decision-making. Comfortable operating in fast-paced, complex environments with competing priorities. Demonstrates an ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution. Skilled in talent selection, team development, and succession planning. Strong business acumen, including understanding of supply chain, procurement, and financial levers in manufacturing. A results-oriented management style; able to create a clear expectation and accountability system throughout the plant; proven change management skills Demonstrates sophisticated communication skills (oral, written and presentation), able to effectively interact with all levels of the plant and wider Alkegen enterprise

If you are interested in being part of a world class organization, Alkegen would love to hear from you. At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – ALL PEOPLE – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before. We believe that diversity and inclusion are central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth & innovation, and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, nation of origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class Alkegen is a specialty materials leader serving mission‑critical systems that the world is focused on for the future, including: battery technologies, electric vehicles, filtration media, and specialty insulation materials that enable customers to reduce fossil fuel consumption, save energy, and live greener. We help people breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. Our experience speaks for itself. We are a vertically integrated manufacturer with the global reach and talent to solve your most demanding applications. With 60 manufacturing facilities and 9,000+ highly skilled employees located around the world, we can solve any challenge. Dedicated to sustainability and human health, we are uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.