Plant Manager (Relocation Offered)

LeoForce; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical / Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Relocation Package

Annual Bonus

Job summary

LeoForce seeks an experienced Plant Manager to lead a growing precision CNC manufacturing operation serving highly regulated end markets. This on-site leadership role focuses on day-to-day performance and long-term strategy, with relocation support to the Upper Midwest and an emphasis on safety, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement.

You will develop processes, systems, people, equipment strategy, and the operational model needed to drive growth while improving cost, quality, and

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within CNC machining, precision manufacturing, or a closely related environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CNC machining operations, ideally including Swiss turning and vertical milling.
• Experience leading and scaling high-mix, lower-volume manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to improve manufacturing processes rather than simply manage production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing operations, including CNC machining, production scheduling, procurement, secondary operations, maintenance, warehousing, shipping, logistics, and inspection activities.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support business growth, changing production volumes, and new product opportunities.
• Establish meaningful operational KPIs and hold teams accountable for safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and efficiency.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes to improve machine utilization, throughput, cycle time, labor efficiency, workflow, and overall cost structure.
• Lead the continued transition toward greater automation and machinery-driven efficiency, including robotics, automated machine tending, and other manufacturing technologies.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives utilizing tools such as value stream mapping, standardized work, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, A3, 5 Whys, and root-cause analysis.
• Partner with Engineering and other business functions to develop operational growth plans, including process improvements, workforce development, equipment requirements, and capital investments.
• Optimize the use of equipment, facilities, and personnel as production requirements evolve.
• Develop supervisors, managers, and frontline employees while building greater accountability throughout the organization.
• Maintain a highly visible presence on the manufacturing floor and build credibility with employees by involving them in operational improvements and organizational change.
• Foster a culture centered around safety, quality, continuous improvement, disciplined execution, and employee development.

Skills

CNC leadership

Lean/Six Sigma

Regulated environment

Capacity planning

People development

Relocation willing

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description

Experience

Senior Level

Salary

$150,000 - $175,000 per year

Job Details

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing operations, including CNC machining, production scheduling, procurement, secondary operations, maintenance, warehousing, shipping, logistics, and inspection activities.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support business growth, changing production volumes, and new product opportunities.
• Establish meaningful operational KPIs and hold teams accountable for safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and efficiency.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes to improve machine utilization, throughput, cycle time, labor efficiency, workflow, and overall cost structure.
• Lead the continued transition toward greater automation and machinery-driven efficiency, including robotics, automated machine tending, and other manufacturing technologies.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives utilizing tools such as value stream mapping, standardized work, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, A3, 5 Whys, and root-cause analysis.
• Partner with Engineering and other business functions to develop operational growth plans, including process improvements, workforce development, equipment requirements, and capital investments.
• Optimize the use of equipment, facilities, and personnel as production requirements evolve.
• Develop supervisors, managers, and frontline employees while building greater accountability throughout the organization.
• Maintain a highly visible presence on the manufacturing floor and build credibility with employees by involving them in operational improvements and organizational change.
• Foster a culture centered around safety, quality, continuous improvement, disciplined execution, and employee development.

Manufacturing Environment

• CNC Swiss turning
• CNC vertical milling
• CNC programming
• Automated and semi-automated machining
• Robotics and cobot-assisted production
• Palletized manufacturing
• Secondary and assembly operations
• Tight-tolerance inspection

What We're Looking For

• Significant leadership experience within CNC machining, precision manufacturing, or a closely related environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CNC machining operations, ideally including Swiss turning and vertical milling.
• Experience leading and scaling high-mix, lower-volume manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to improve manufacturing processes rather than simply manage production schedules.
• Experience implementing automation, improving equipment utilization, and reducing reliance on manual processes.
• Strong Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or structured problem-solving background.
• Experience within a regulated manufacturing environment, such as medical device, aerospace, defense, automotive, or another highly controlled industry.
• Demonstrated success developing manufacturing leaders and frontline teams.
• Ability to establish operational metrics and translate those metrics into meaningful improvements.
• Strong understanding of capacity planning, scheduling, labor utilization, capital equipment, cost management, and production flow.
• Leadership style that combines accountability with a highly visible, collaborative presence on the manufacturing floor.
• Experience with ISO 13485, FDA-regulated manufacturing, ISO 9001, AS9100, or comparable quality systems is highly desirable.
• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Business Management, or a related discipline is preferred.

A bit about us:

We are conducting a confidential search for an experienced Plant Manager to lead a growing precision CNC manufacturing operation serving highly regulated end markets.

This is a highly visible leadership position responsible for both the day-to-day performance and long-term operational strategy of the facility. The Plant Manager will be tasked with developing the processes, systems, people, equipment strategy, and operational model needed to support continued growth while improving efficiency, cost, quality, and delivery.

LOCATION NOTE: This position is not located in Chicago. This is a fully on-site leadership opportunity that requires relocation to the Upper Midwest. Relocation assistance is available, and additional relocation or housing support may be considered for the right candidate. The exact location will be shared with qualified candidates as part of this confidential search.

Why join us?

• Medical / Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Relocation Package
• Annual Bonus

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