Plant Manager

JMJ Phillip Group; Zeeland (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

JMJ Phillip Group seeks an experienced Plant Manager to oversee daily manufacturing operations, driving operational excellence and ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and financial objectives are met. This role provides strategic leadership across production, maintenance, quality, and other plant functions while developing teams and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

The position offers a senior leadership opportunity within a manufacturing operation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing or plant operations experience.
• Proven experience in plant management or senior manufacturing leadership.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, production planning, quality, and maintenance operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing large, cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing budgets, operating costs, and KPIs.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of workplace safety and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations and ensure production goals are consistently achieved.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and delivery performance.
• Monitor production schedules, capacity, resource allocation, and overall plant performance.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are executed consistently and effectively.
• Lead, develop, and mentor plant leadership and production teams.
• Establish performance expectations, accountability measures, and development plans.
• Foster a collaborative, engaged, and results-oriented workplace culture.
• Support workforce planning, staffing, and succession development.
• Maintain a strong culture of workplace safety and environmental responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor quality performance and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Partner with quality and operations teams to continuously improve processes and reduce defects.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.
• Analyze operational metrics to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and cost reduction.
• Implement root cause analysis and corrective action processes.
• Promote standardization, waste reduction, and process optimization.
• Manage plant operating budgets and monitor costs against established objectives.
• Support capital planning, equipment investments, and resource allocation.
• Analyze KPIs and provide operational updates to senior leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and overall plant performance.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, maintenance, quality, finance, and other departments.
• Coordinate with leadership on strategic initiatives and business priorities.
• Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure plant activities align with broader organizational objectives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Decision making

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or related field

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Production planning

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to oversee daily manufacturing operations, drive operational excellence, and ensure the facility meets its safety, quality, productivity, and financial objectives. This role will provide strategic and operational leadership across production, maintenance, quality, and other plant functions while developing teams and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Position Responsibilities

Plant Operations

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations and ensure production goals are consistently achieved.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and delivery performance.
• Monitor production schedules, capacity, resource allocation, and overall plant performance.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are executed consistently and effectively.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor plant leadership and production teams.
• Establish performance expectations, accountability measures, and development plans.
• Foster a collaborative, engaged, and results-oriented workplace culture.
• Support workforce planning, staffing, and succession development.

Safety & Quality

• Maintain a strong culture of workplace safety and environmental responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor quality performance and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Partner with quality and operations teams to continuously improve processes and reduce defects.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.
• Analyze operational metrics to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and cost reduction.
• Implement root cause analysis and corrective action processes.
• Promote standardization, waste reduction, and process optimization.

Financial & Business Management

• Manage plant operating budgets and monitor costs against established objectives.
• Support capital planning, equipment investments, and resource allocation.
• Analyze key performance indicators and provide operational updates to senior leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and overall plant performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, maintenance, quality, finance, and other departments.
• Coordinate with leadership on strategic initiatives and business priorities.
• Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure plant activities align with broader organizational objectives.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing or plant operations experience.
• Proven experience in plant management or senior manufacturing leadership.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, production planning, quality, and maintenance operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing large, cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing budgets, operating costs, and key performance indicators.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of workplace safety and regulatory requirements.

Certifications (Preferred, but not Required)

• Lean Six Sigma certification.
• Certified Manufacturing Operations Professional (CMOP).
• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• OSHA or relevant safety certification.
• Certified Manager certification.

What the Role Offers

• Salary: $180,000-$200,000 annually
• Senior leadership opportunity within a manufacturing operation.
• Opportunity to drive plant-wide operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Significant influence over safety, quality, productivity, and financial performance.
• Opportunity to develop high-performing manufacturing teams.
• Professional growth through strategic and operational leadership responsibilities.

Why Zeeland?

Zeeland offers a strong manufacturing environment with access to skilled talent, established industrial infrastructure, and a diverse network of manufacturing operations. The area provides an excellent setting for plant leaders to drive operational excellence, develop teams, improve manufacturing performance, and contribute to long-term business growth.