Plant Manager – Precision CNC Machining & Metal Fabrication

Barbachano International, Inc.; Chesterfield (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Barbachano International, Inc. seeks a Plant Manager for its Chesterfield, MO site to lead strategic and operational functions across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People.

The role balances hands-on shop-floor leadership with strategic planning to optimize CNC milling/turning and metal fabrication operations in a high-mix, low-volume environment. The ideal candidate has 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership, with 5+ years in site management, strong Lean/Six Sigma experience,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering required; Master’s/MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in complex manufacturing, with at least 5 years in direct plant management accountability.
• Solid knowledge and practical leadership in CNC machining (milling/turning) and some metal fabrication processes.
• Demonstrated success in High-Mix / Low-Volume industrial manufacturing environments.
• Financial acumen with plant P&L oversight, budgets, cost reduction, and capital investments.
• Lean / Six Sigma and structured problem-solving to improve safety, on-time delivery, scrap and efficiency.
• Visible, credible shop-floor leader who engages machinists, technicians, and engineers.
• Operational discipline: data, standard work, KPIs drive consistent results.
• People development: coaching leadership and succession planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute site strategy, budgets, capacity forecasts, and cost structures for profitability and growth.
• Lead CNC machining and metal fabrication operations; maximize utilization and throughput.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, standard work, and visual management to reduce cycle times and variability.
• Oversee NPI readiness, process industrialization, work transfers, and ramp-ups.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications and drive root-cause problem solving.
• Coach site leaders and maintain a strong, visible shop-floor presence to drive performance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Lean / Six Sigma

Shop-floor leadership

Data-driven decisions

People development

Operational discipline

P&L awareness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

MBA preferred

Job description

Industry: High-Precision Manufacturing / Advanced Industrial Components

Employment Type: Full-Time / On-Site

Reports To: Vice President of Operations

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Our client is a high-growth, globally integrated manufacturing leader delivering mission-critical components and complex assemblies to world-class industrial OEMs. With an extensive North American network of production facilities and strong global backing, the organization combines deep engineering capability with advanced manufacturing in multi-axis CNC machining, structural assembly, metal fabrication, and advanced materials.

Committed to safety, operational excellence, Lean principles, and sustainable growth, the company is entering an exciting phase of strategic expansion and plant optimization.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Plant Manager will provide overall strategic and operational leadership for the facility in the Greater St. Louis area (Chesterfield, Mo.). This role is fully accountable for delivering predictable site performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP).

We are seeking a visible, hands-on manufacturing executive who operates seamlessly between strategic planning and shop-floor execution. The Plant Manager will lead the site leadership team, strengthen operational discipline, lead operational turnaround, optimize production flow, and foster a high-accountability culture within a complex high-mix / low-volume CNC machining and metal fabrication environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Site Strategy & Financial Performance: Develop and execute annual operating plans, OPEX/CAPEX budgets, capacity forecasts, and cost structures to drive site profitability and long-term growth.
• Machining & Metal Fabrication Operations: Lead plant performance across CNC multi-axis milling, turning, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and sub-assembly. Maximize machine utilization, fixture efficiency, and throughput while eliminating constraints.
• Operational Excellence & Lean: Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, standard work, visual management, and continuous improvement to minimize cycle times, scrap, rework, and operational variability.
• New Product Introduction (NPI) & Work Transfers: Oversee operational readiness for new component introductions, process industrialization, work transfers, and production ramp-ups.
• Quality & Customer Commitments: Ensure strict compliance with rigorous customer specifications and quality standards. Drive root-cause problem solving and corrective action implementation.
• Leadership & Shop-Floor Culture: Coach and develop site department heads, supervisors, and technical leaders. Maintain a strong, visible presence on the shop floor to build trust, reinforce urgency, and drive operational performance.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, Business, or a related field required (Master's/MBA preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in complex manufacturing environments, with at least 5 years in direct site or plant management accountability (i.e. Plant Manager, Site Manager, Director of Operations, Manufacturing Leader, Sr. Operations Manager, etc.).
• Hands-On Technical Expertise (Required): Solid knowledge and practical leadership background in CNC machining (milling/turning). Prefer experience with some Metal fabrication processes (like forming, laser/cut, welding, tooling, and fixtures).
• Manufacturing Profile: Demonstrated success in High-Mix / Low-Volume industrial manufacturing environments.
• Financial Acumen: Proven experience managing plant P&L drivers, operational budgets, unit cost reduction, and capital investment projects.
• Lean / Continuous Improvement: Demonstrated success applying Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies to improve safety, OTD, scrap rates, and efficiency.
• Shop-Floor Leader: Visible, accessible leader who earns immediate credibility with machinists, technicians, and engineering teams.
• Operational Discipline: Uses data, standard work, and KPIs to generate consistent, predictable manufacturing results.
• People Developer: Directly coaches leadership talent, establishes succession plans, and decisively addresses performance gaps.

WHY JOIN THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM

This role offers an exceptional opportunity to direct and transform a strategically vital manufacturing facility within a respected international industrial platform. The successful candidate will enjoy high executive visibility, strong corporate backing, and clear avenues for career advancement across North American and global operations.