Plant Manager: Lean Operations & Safety Leader

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.; Plain Township (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Advanced Drainage Systems, a leading manufacturer of stormwater and onsite wastewater solutions, seeks a Plant Manager for its Wooster, OH facility. The role oversees operations, drives safety, production, and continuous improvement across shifts, and collaborates with EHS, Supply Chain, and Engineering to meet KPIs.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree with 10+ years of managerial experience in production, strong Lean expertise, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or significant manufacturing and management experience.
• 10+ years of managerial experience in a production environment.
• Proven leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong operational skills and knowledge of lean business practices.
• Ability to drive results in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team leader/member with diverse groups.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, reach, bend, and move about the facility.
• Occasionally lift and move up to 25 lbs.
• Travel – 10%.

Responsibilities

• Champion a safe work environment by leading initiatives that embed a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and corporate standards.
• Drive plant performance across safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, and employee retention metrics.
• Lead and sustain continuous improvement efforts using Lean principles and data-driven problem-solving to eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency.
• Promote a culture of discipline, consistency, and accountability by reinforcing standardized processes and work practices.
• Manage staffing levels, succession planning, and talent development to align with production needs and build leadership capability across all shifts.
• Coach, mentor, and engage frontline leaders to strengthen decision-making and team performance.
• Support company’s culture statement by fostering employee engagement strategies to reduce turnover, improve morale, and sustain productivity.
• Translate corporate and regional strategies into actionable plant-level objectives, leveraging technology, data, and CI tools to achieve sustained KPI improvements safely.
• Oversee inventory control, materials management, and fulfillment accuracy to support production goals and superior customer service.
• Develop, manage, and adjust the operational budget in response to changing business demands and market conditions.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to align operational plans, schedules, and priorities.
• Communicate plant performance clearly and consistently to employees, peers, and leadership to ensure transparency and shared accountability.
• Participate in regional initiatives and enterprise projects that support manufacturing excellence and align plant objectives with broader corporate priorities.
• Engage with local organizations, schools, and events to build meaningful community relationships that enhance ADS brand visibility and position the plant as a preferred local employer.

Skills

Leadership

Lean principles

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Advanced Drainage Systems, a leading manufacturer of stormwater and onsite wastewater solutions, seeks a Plant Manager for its Wooster, OH facility. The role oversees operations, drives safety, production, and continuous improvement across shifts, and collaborates with EHS, Supply Chain, and Engineering to meet KPIs.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree with 10+ years of managerial experience in production, strong Lean expertise, and excellent communication.