Plant Manager - Marketlab

MarketLab; Caledonia (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Marketlab, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is opening a new textile production facility to support our wound care product lines. We’re seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Manager to lead daily operations, ensure safety, quality, on-time production, and continuous improvement across the floor.

The role reports to the Director of Manufacturing and will build strong teams, optimize labor, and drive data-driven decisions to deliver measurable results and grow talent within a culture of accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience.
• 5–8+ years in manufacturing, with 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading production teams and developing supervisors.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor planning, and production scheduling.
• Demonstrated experience using KPIs (SQDC or similar) to drive performance.
• Strong problem-solving skills with structured problem-solving tools.

Responsibilities

• Ensure day-to-day manufacturing operations run safely and effectively.
• Facilitate daily team huddles to coordinate with purchasing, scheduling, engineering, quality, and shipping.
• Develop and execute labor plans balancing customer demand with labor efficiency.
• Monitor and improve SQDC performance using KPI insights and problem-solving tools.
• Cultivate a positive team culture through recognition, accountability, and education.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives delivering operational efficiencies.
• Ensure full compliance with safety protocols and company policies.
• Mentor and coach supervisors to strengthen leadership and problem-solving abilities.
• Drive accountability with clear goals, evaluations, and actionable feedback.
• Identify and support future leaders with stretch projects.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing

Team development

Safety & compliance

KPI analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, or Business

Job description

MARKETLAB IS EXCITED TO ANNCOUNCE WE ARE OPENING A NEW PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN AREA. THIS IS TEXTILE PLANT TO SUPPORT OUR WOUND CARE PRODUCT LINES.

Who We Are:

Marketlab is a market leading healthcare solutions organization specializing in the design, manufacturing, and sourcing of private label products. It’s our mission to provide our healthcare partners timely solutions with a straightforward approach based on knowing them and their work. Every day we strive to positively impact the lives of the people who in turn impact the health and wellness of our communities.

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marketlab’s success is built upon a foundation of collaboration, innovation, and the belief that every team member plays a vital role in creating an exceptional customer service experience.

The Opportunity:

This role offers the opportunity to lead and shape a high-performing manufacturing operation by driving safety, quality, on‑time production, efficiency, and continuous improvement across the production floor. The Manufacturing Manager will play a critical role in aligning cross‑functional teams, optimizing labor and processes to meet customer demand, and building a culture of accountability and growth. This position is ideal for a hands‑on leader who is passionate about developing people, improving systems, and delivering measurable operational results.

This role reports to the Director, Manufacturing.

People Leadership & Team Development – Builds strong teams through coaching, feedback, and accountability; develops future leaders.

Communication & Alignment – Clearly communicates priorities and ensures cross‑functional coordination (production, purchasing, engineering, etc.).

Accountability & Ownership – Holds self and others responsible for results, performance standards, and commitments.

Planning & Prioritization – Effectively balances customer demand, labor efficiency, and operational constraints.

Manufacturing Operations Management – Deep understanding of production workflows, labor planning, and daily execution.

Problem Solving & Critical Thinking – Identifies root causes and implements sustainable solutions.

Safety Leadership – Actively promotes and enforces a culture of safety and compliance.

Quality & Continuous Improvement – Uses structured problem‑solving and continuous improvement tools to drive SQDC (safety, quality, delivery, cost) performance.

Data‑Driven Decision Making – Interprets KPIs and operational data to make informed, timely decisions.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Works effectively across departments to remove barriers and improve flow.

Adaptability & Resilience – Navigates shifting priorities and production challenges with composure.

Change Management – Leads and sustains improvements, gaining team buy‑in and minimizing disruption.

What You’ll Do:

• Ensure day‑to‑day manufacturing operations run safely and effectively.
• Facilitate daily team huddles to drive coordination with purchasing, scheduling, engineering, quality, and shipping.
• Develop and execute labor plans for the production team that balance customer demand with labor efficiency.
• Monitor and improve SQDC performance using KPI insights and structured problem‑solving tools.
• Cultivate a positive and productive team culture through recognition, accountability, and education.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that deliver operational efficiencies.
• Ensure full compliance with safety protocols and company policies.

Team Growth and Development

• Mentor and coach supervisors to strengthen leadership skills, communication techniques, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Drive accountability by setting clear performance goals, conducting evaluations, and providing actionable feedback on strengths and weaknesses.
• Identify and support future leaders by assigning stretch projects and developmental opportunities.

• Ensure robust cross‑training across, with a minimum of three individuals trained in each position.

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field (or equivalent hands‑on manufacturing experience).
• 5–8+ years of progressive experience in a manufacturing environment, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading production teams and developing supervisors or frontline leaders.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor planning, and production scheduling.
• Demonstrated experience using KPIs (SQDC or similar) to drive performance and continuous improvement.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with experience in root cause analysis and structured problem‑solving tools.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.