Plant Manager

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Versailles (KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Wellness reimbursements

Education assistance

Professional development

Job summary

Sika Corporation is seeking a Plant Manager for the Versailles, KY facility to lead safe, efficient operations and drive continuous improvement across all manufacturing functions.

You will oversee safety, quality, service, and productivity, while building capable teams and partnering with engineering, maintenance, EHS, quality, and supply chain to sustain reliable operations and capital projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• MBA or advanced technical degree desirable.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead safe, efficient, customer-focused manufacturing operations while improving quality, productivity, delivery, and cost performance.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, process control, preventive maintenance, and capital project execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant safety culture by advancing safety principles and ensuring compliance with rules.
• Deliver annual quality, service, and productivity goals through manufacturing execution and disciplined problem solving.
• Build and sustain high-performing teams across production, maintenance, engineering, quality, materials, and logistics.
• Collaborate with engineering, EHS, quality, supply chain, R&D, and commercial teams to support reliable operations and CAPEX planning.
• Drive continuous improvement using lean methods, problem solving, standard work, and data-driven decision making.
• Develop a flexible organization to meet changing demand and business priorities.
• Manage operating expenses and execute approved capital projects to deliver safety, capacity, and cost benefits.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, corporate, environmental, safety, and quality requirements.
• Coach and develop salaried and hourly associates to strengthen capability and engagement.
• Communicate effectively across the organization to promote respect, teamwork and accountability.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Root Cause Analysis

Operations Leadership

Safety Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations

MBA or advanced technical degree desirable

Tools

MS Office

Job description

With over 100 years of experience, Sika is a worldwide innovation and sustainability leader in the development and production of systems and products for commercial and residential construction, as well as the marine, automotive, and renewable energy manufacturing industries.

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world, produces in over 400 factories and develops innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the consruction and transportation industries toward greater environmental compatibility. Approximately 33,000 employees generated CHF 11.20 billion in sales in 2025.

Job Description

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading the safe, efficient, compliant, and environmentally responsible operation and continued development of the Versailles facility. This role provides overall site leadership for manufacturing performance, including safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, people development, and continuous improvement. The incumbent will create a culture of accountability, trust, employee engagement, and operational excellence while representing the Corporation’s vision and values at the plant level.

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead the plant safety culture by actively advancing Sika SAFE principles, ensuring compliance with safety rules and procedures, and driving progress toward annual safety objectives.
• Deliver annual quality, service, and productivity goals by ensuring strong manufacturing execution, disciplined problem solving, process control, and effective response to customer and business requirements.
• Build and sustain high-performing teams across production, maintenance, engineering, quality, materials, logistics, and support functions.
• Partner with engineering, maintenance, EHS, quality, supply chain, R&D, and commercial teams to support reliable operations, new product introductions, capital planning, preventive maintenance, and long-term site development.
• Drive continuous improvement using lean manufacturing, statistical process control, error-proofing, root cause analysis, standard work, and other structured problem-solving methods.
• Develop a flexible and capable organization that can respond effectively to changing customer demand, business priorities, product mix, and capacity requirements.
• Manage annual operating expense targets and execute approved capital projects to deliver committed safety, quality, capacity, cost, and productivity benefits.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, corporate, environmental, safety, and quality requirements.
• Select, coach, train, and develop salaried and hourly associates to strengthen capability, succession depth, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization and promote a culture of respect, teamwork, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred; MBA or advanced technical degree desirable.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including experience leading production teams and managing plant-level performance.
• Proven ability to lead safe, efficient, customer-focused manufacturing operations while improving quality, productivity, delivery, and cost performance.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, process control, preventive maintenance, and capital project execution.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with the ability to build trust, develop talent, set clear expectations, and hold teams accountable in a fair and consistent manner.
• Excellent communication skills, characterized by clarity, sincerity, sound judgment, and the ability to influence across hourly, salaried, functional, and senior leadership groups.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a leadership style grounded in respect, humility, collaboration, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Goal-oriented, well organized, and able to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing priorities.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and the ability to use data, reports, and operating metrics to manage performance and drive improvement.

Additional Information

• 401k with Generous Company Match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid time off, Paid holidays
• Wellness/Fitness Reimbursements
• Education Assistance
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Referral Program & More!

Sika fosters a culture of entrepreneurship, empowering each individual to make decisions, learn from experiences, and shape their own career path. The safety and well-being of employees are top priorities at Sika, with a strong commitment to open communication and maintaining a safe workplace. In addition, Sika actively contributes to the community and promotes sustainability by giving back, minimizing environmental impact, and embracing social responsibility.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilites of each role. Compensation is determined based on skills relevant to the position, education, and or training. We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Sika Corporation is committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals that apply. As an equal opportunity employer Sika will consider all qualified applicants without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, or other protected characteristics.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training. We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.