Plant Manager

Masterbilt Inc; South Bend (IN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Masterbilt Incorporated is seeking a Plant Manager to lead all daily manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and cost control. The role provides leadership to production, maintenance, quality, and support teams while driving continuous improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in CNC machining, Lean manufacturing, and ERP/MRP systems, plus extensive experience in plant leadership across multiple shifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive manufacturing or operations experience, including at least 3 years in a plant leadership role.
• Experience leading supervisors and employees across multiple departments and shifts.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all daily manufacturing operations to meet production goals and customer requirements.
• Monitor KPIs including safety, quality, productivity, scrap, downtime, and on-time delivery.
• Develop strategies to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
• Collaborate with planning and customer service to ensure efficient workflow and delivery performance.
• Promote safe work environment adhering to OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and ensure corrective actions are completed.

Skills

CNC machining

Manufacturing leadership

Lean manufacturing

ERP/MRP systems

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/engineering/manufacturing/ops

Equivalent combination of education and leadership experience

Tools

ERP/MRP software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About Masterbilt Incorporated:

Founded with a commitment to excellence in precision manufacturing, Masterbilt Incorporated has established itself as a leader in delivering high-performance components across a range of industries. Our mission is to provide superior quality through innovation, advanced CNC machining processes, and a relentless focus on continuous improvement.

At Masterbilt, we operate in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where teamwork and innovation drive success. We take pride in fostering a culture that empowers employees to grow, contribute meaningfully, and uphold our core values of quality, integrity, and operational excellence. Through our dedication and expertise, we consistently meet the evolving needs of our customers while maintaining the highest standards in manufacturing.

Position Description:

The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, productivity, cost control, and employee engagement objectives are achieved. This position provides leadership to production, maintenance, quality, and support teams while driving continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

• Direct and oversee all daily manufacturing operations to ensure production goals, quality standards, and customer requirements are achieved.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including safety, quality, productivity, scrap, downtime, and on-time delivery.
• Develop strategies to improve operational efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Ensure production goals are met while maintaining quality standards and customer expectations.
• Collaborate with planning and customer service teams to ensure efficient workflow and delivery performance.
• Promote and maintain a safe work environment through adherence to OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, quality, and operational standards.
• Lead safety initiatives and investigate workplace incidents to develop corrective actions.
• Drive corrective and preventive action initiatives when quality issues arise.
• Promote continuous improvement of quality systems and processes.
• Monitor labor, material, and operational costs.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with maintenance teams to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
• Coordinate capital improvement projects and equipment investments.

Performance Expectations (KPIs)

• Maintain a safe work environment and ensure compliance with all company, OSHA, and regulatory requirements.
• Achieve established safety goals, including reductions in workplace injuries and timely completion of corrective actions.
• Meet established on-time delivery and production schedule targets.
• Achieve production throughput, labor-efficiency, and machine-utilization goals.
• Identify and reduce production delays, downtime, bottlenecks, scrap, and rework.
• Maintain product quality and support achievement of customer and internal quality requirements.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, training, accountability, and performance management across all shifts.
• Developing supervisors and team leads to improving communication, ownership, and operational performance.
• Maintain inventory accuracy, appropriate work-in-process levels, and material availability.
• Partner with maintenance to improve equipment reliability and ensure preventive maintenance is completed as scheduled.
• Control plant operating costs and manage labor, overtime, supplies, and other expenses within the approved budget.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and ensure corrective actions are completed on time.
• Provide accurate and timely operational reports to senior leadership.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and audit-ready facility.
• Demonstrate consistent leadership aligned with the company’s vision, core values, policies, and business objectives.

Qualifications and Competency Requirements:

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive manufacturing or operations experience, including at least 3 years in a plant leadership or senior operations management role.
• Experience leading supervisors and employees across multiple departments and shifts.
• Strong knowledge of CNC machining, production processes, shop-floor operations, and manufacturing workflow preferred.
• Demonstrated experience improving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
• Experience with production planning, scheduling, capacity management, inventory control, and material flow.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems, continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience managing operating budgets, labor costs, overtime, capital projects, and performance metrics.
• Experience partnering with maintenance to improve preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and machine utilization.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Familiarity with OSHA requirements and applicable environmental, safety, and employment regulations.

Additional Attributes

• Demonstrated ability to lead independently, exercise sound judgment, and make timely operational decisions.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving principles.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold supervisors and employees accountable.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use operational data to identify issues and drive improvements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with employees, leadership, customers, and vendors.
• Ability to resolve conflicts, address performance concerns, and build productive working relationships.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, customer service, teamwork, and operational excellence.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee and business information appropriately.

Compliance

• Must successfully satisfy all applicable pre-employment requirements, including background screening and drug testing, and remain compliant with company policies and any ongoing screening requirements applicable to the position.

Physical Activities & Working Conditions

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This position operates in both an office and manufacturing environment. The employee is regularly required to communicate, use a computer, review documentation, and move throughout the manufacturing facility. The position may require extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking, as well as occasional bending, reaching, climbing stairs, and lifting or carrying up to 35 pounds. The employee may be exposed to noise, moving equipment, varying temperatures, and other conditions commonly associated with a manufacturing environment. Required personal protective equipment must be worn while in designated areas. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Schedule:

The typical schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, with hours based on operational needs. The Plant Manager must maintain a regular onsite presence and be available for occasionally early mornings, evenings, weekends, or emergency situations as business needs require.

Other:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.