Plant Operations Leader - Safety, Quality & Efficiency

CareerNerds, LLC; Linden (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

CareerNerds, LLC seeks a Plant Manager to oversee daily plant operations, driving safety, efficiency, quality, and cost control. This leader will coordinate production, maintenance, and quality teams to meet customer requirements and company targets.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in manufacturing leadership, a Lean mindset, and experience with ERP/MRP systems. Strong communication and budget management are essential for success in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management or related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of manufacturing or plant operations experience, including leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, manufacturing processes, quality systems, workplace safety, and maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage budgets, solve operational problems, and improve performance.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and performance measurement preferred.
• Strong communication, organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing activities to meet production schedules, quality standards, delivery commitments, and targets.
• Lead, develop, and hold supervisors and employees accountable for performance, productivity, attendance, and policy adherence.
• Maintain a safe working environment by enforcing safety procedures, conducting inspections, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Monitor production output, labor utilization, equipment performance, downtime, and scrap; implement efficiency improvements.
• Ensure products meet customer specifications and quality requirements; support corrective actions and prevent defects.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, and equipment improvements to minimize downtime.
• Manage plant operating expenses, labor costs, materials usage, and other resources to meet financial targets.
• Identify and implement process improvements using Lean, 5S, root-cause analysis, and other problem-solving methods.
• Coordinate with purchasing, warehouse, and supply chain teams to maintain inventory levels and support production.
• Track and report KPIs, production results, safety performance, quality metrics, and improvement initiatives to senior management.
• Work closely with sales, customer service, engineering, quality, maintenance, and logistics to resolve issues and support business objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing/Engineering/Operations

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

CareerNerds, LLC seeks a Plant Manager to oversee daily plant operations, driving safety, efficiency, quality, and cost control. This leader will coordinate production, maintenance, and quality teams to meet customer requirements and company targets.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in manufacturing leadership, a Lean mindset, and experience with ERP/MRP systems. Strong communication and budget management are essential for success in a fast-paced environment.