Plant Manager (Wood Products)

Stella Jones; Goshen (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Dental and Vision coverage

Life insurance

Long-Term Disability

401(k) with company match

Annual bonus program

Job summary

Stella-Jones Goshen Plant in Virginia seeks a Plant Manager to oversee daily operations, ensure safety, quality and on-time production, and manage environmental compliance and budgets. The role directs staffing, training, and performance while coordinating with internal teams and suppliers.

The ideal candidate will bring Lean manufacturing expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to drive cost performance and continuous improvement across plant operations.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of work experience in the manufacturing industry.
• Five or more years of plant leadership; seven+ years preferred.
• Experience in wood products manufacturing or similar industrial setting.
• Practical Lean and continuous improvement experience.
• Ability to read safety/environmental documents and write reports.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; SAP or ERP systems experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe, on-time production that meets quality standards.
• Lead budgeting, cost controls, and capital project oversight.
• Develop and maintain staffing levels; supervise exempt/non-exempt staff.
• Drive continuous improvement and optimize operations with teams.
• Coordinate with internal functions and suppliers to maximize assets.
• Maintain regulatory compliance and environmental controls.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Communication

Microsoft Office

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Stella-Jones is a leading manufacturer of essential infrastructure products focused on serving utilities and railroads, as well as supplying big box home improvement stores across North America. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada and publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Stella-Jones operates a vast network of facilities that employs more than 3,000 employees across the United States and Canada. Built on strong foundations with a coast-to-coast reach, we offer real opportunities for career success and community impact.

About Our Goshen, Virginia Plant

Our 35-acre manufacturing site in Goshen specializes in the production of high-quality railway ties. The local team is made up of 50 dedicated manufacturing professionals across a variety of positions. To learn more about Goshen’s railway tie products (including a 1-minute video overview), visit our product page: https://www.stella-jones.com/en/products/railway-ties

Position Overview

The Plant Manager at Stella-Jones in Goshen, Virginia is responsible for managing daily plant operation functions in a safe manner to ensure production schedules and requirements are achieved on a quality, timely and cost-effective basis. This leader ensures compliance with government regulations pertaining to environmental controls, hazardous waste management and safety, while providing leadership for plant OPEX and CAPEX budgets, capital projects, staffing, and hiring.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance:

• Drives a positive safety culture by setting a strong example and continually improving the effectiveness of safety training and programs.
• Ensures compliance with company, government, and customer policies, procedures, and regulations, including environmental controls and hazardous waste requirements.
• Ensures employees receive and complete required safety, environmental, and operational training and comply with all applicable requirements

Production Operations & Performance:

• Manages daily plant operations to ensure production schedules and requirements are achieved safely, on time, and within quality standards.
• Establishes production and quality control standards and obtains data regarding types, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates of products ordered.
• Ensures all established cost, quality, safety, and delivery commitments are met.
• Coordinates manufacturing activities with internal functions and suppliers to optimize the utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials.
• Reviews production and operating reports and directs the resolution of operational, manufacturing, and maintenance issues to minimize costs and prevent delays.
• Assures maintenance programs are executed and production interruptions are minimized through effective preventive maintenance follow-up.
• Recommends system improvements and plans to enhance productivity and operational performance.

Financial Management & Business Planning:

• Develops and maintains manufacturing operations business plans, including labor requirements, cycle times, and production costs.
• Participates in the annual budgeting process and is responsible for operating and capital budget development and attainment.
• Establishes budget and cost controls and reviews production costs to support profitable operations.
• Modifies production and inventory control programs as needed to maintain and improve financial performance.
• Directs the preparation of accounting records.

Leadership, Staffing & Workforce Development:

• Maintains the operation with a qualified, competent workforce aligned to business needs.
• Provides direct supervision of exempt and non-exempt staff, including performance evaluations, coaching, improvement plans, and disciplinary action when necessary.
• Approves paid time off (PTO), assigns or delegates work, and provides on-the-job training and guidance.
• Interviews candidates and supports hiring to build and retain a strong plant team.

Continuous Improvement & Industry Engagement:

• Visits related company facilities to maintain current knowledge of industry methods and cost performance.
• Attends meetings, trade shows, seminars, and other professional events to stay current on manufacturing best practices.
• Identifies and implements operational improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of work experience in the manufacturing industry required
• Five or more years of manufacturing plant leadership experience (ideally in roles such as Plant Manager, Production Manager, etc) required; Seven or more years preferred
• Experience in wood products manufacturing or a similar industrial manufacturing environment preferred
• Working knowledge and practical experience applying Lean Manufacturing and continuous-improvement methods.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety and environmental policies and procedures, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and ideally SAP or other ERP systems

Employee Benefits

As a Stella-Jones team member, you will have access to excellent benefits and incentives including:

• Comprehensive total benefits package with 3 medical plans to choose from
• Several company-paid benefits including:Dental and Vision coverage
• Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) policies
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Access to a robust employee assistance program
• Competitive compensation
• Annual bonus program opportunity
• 401(k) savings plan with excellent Company match (150% on the first 4% deferred)
• Ability to purchase Company stock

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled