Plant Manager - Glass Manufacturing Complex

Ilocatum; Defiance (OH); On-site; USD 220,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilocatum in Defiance, OH seeks a Plant Manager for its Glass Manufacturing Complex. You will lead two facilities, an offsite warehouse, and a customer service building, directing a unionized workforce of 660+ hourly and 60+ salaried employees, while delivering safety, quality and productivity improvements.

Responsibilities include driving lean initiatives, capital projects, budget adherence, and labor relations, with exposure to senior leadership and external regulators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field required.
• 12+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership, including 5+ years as Plant Manager.
• Experience leading a unionized workforce of 600+ hourly and 60+ salaried employees.
• Background in glass, ceramics, or metals manufacturing.
• Proven track record improving safety, productivity, quality, cost and engagement.
• P&L and capital program management experience.
• Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kepner-Tregoe or similar disciplines.
• Experience with environmental permitting, regulatory agencies, and safety leadership.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead two manufacturing facilities, an offsite warehouse, and a customer service building.
• Oversee a unionized workforce of 600+ hourly and 60+ salaried employees.
• Drive year-over-year improvement in safety and environmental performance.
• Raise throughput, yield, uptime, and quality through lean manufacturing.
• Lead major capital projects, including furnace rebuilds, automation, and capacity expansion.
• Deliver operating results against budget, including cost, working capital, and inventory.
• Build an engaged, accountable culture and develop leadership succession pipelines.
• Maintain productive labor relations while driving performance.
• Represent the complex with community stakeholders, regulators, customers, and senior leadership.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kepner-Tregoe

Union environment leadership

P&L management

Capital project management

Safety leadership

Environmental permitting knowledge

Glass/ceramics/metals manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field

Job description

Plant Manager, Glass Manufacturing Complex

Location: Defiance, OH
Job Type: Full-time
Travel: Periodic, about 11 to 29 days per year
Pay: $220,000 to $240,000 per year

Lead one of a global manufacturer’s largest and most visible operations, driving major capital investments that will shape the future of a multi-site manufacturing complex.

Must-Haves

• Bachelor’s degree (engineering or technical degree preferred)
• 12+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership, including 5+ years as a Plant Manager or equivalent senior site leader
• Union environment experience leading hourly and salaried workforces
• Background in glass, ceramics, or metals manufacturing
• Proven record improving safety, productivity, quality, cost, and engagement
• P&L and capital program management experience
• Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kepner-Tregoe, or similar disciplines
• Experience with environmental permitting, regulatory agencies, and safety leadership
• Authorization to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship

What You’ll Do

• Lead two manufacturing facilities, an offsite warehouse, and a customer service building
• Oversee a unionized workforce of 600+ hourly and 60+ salaried employees
• Drive year-over-year improvement in safety and environmental performance
• Raise throughput, yield, uptime, and quality through lean manufacturing
• Lead major capital projects, including furnace rebuilds, automation, and capacity expansion
• Deliver operating results against budget, including cost, working capital, and inventory
• Build an engaged, accountable culture and develop leadership succession pipelines
• Maintain productive labor relations while driving performance
• Represent the complex with community stakeholders, regulators, customers, and senior leadership

Nice-to-Haves

• Furnace rebuild or high-temperature process experience
• Multi-site plant leadership
• Experience leading multiple unions

Compensation and Benefits

• $220,000 to $240,000 per year
• High-visibility, career-accelerating role with senior leadership exposure

About the Company

Our client is a well-respected global building and specialty materials manufacturer, and this complex supplies multiple plants and external customers across its network.