Plant Start-Up General Manager: Engineering-Led Ops

Smith Arnold Partners; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Arnold Partners seeks a hands-on Plant General Manager to lead the start-up and ongoing operations of a greenfield manufacturing facility. You will own the plant performance, from construction through commissioning to steady production, with responsibility for safety, quality, budgets, and capital projects.

The role requires an engineering background, 10+ years in manufacturing leadership, and a proven track record delivering large-scale capital programs, building teams, and achieving

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading a plant start-up, greenfield facility, major expansion, or significant capital project.
• Strong project management and contractor management experience.
• Proven P&L responsibility and business leadership.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence principles.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in highly regulated or complex manufacturing environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, commissioning, and launch of a new manufacturing facility.
• Oversee all capital projects from planning through execution and completion.
• Manage relationships with contractors, engineering firms, vendors, and project stakeholders.
• Ensure construction, equipment installation, and commissioning activities are completed safely and efficiently.
• Develop facility operational readiness plans, staffing strategies, and start-up timelines.
• Direct all manufacturing, production, maintenance, quality, logistics, and engineering functions.
• Establish operational procedures, performance standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive productivity, efficiency, on-time delivery, and cost reduction efforts.
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics to support operational excellence

Skills

Leadership experience

Project management

Contractor management

Operations leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Regulatory compliance

Decision-making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

MBA or advanced technical degree preferred

Job description

Smith Arnold Partners seeks a hands-on Plant General Manager to lead the start-up and ongoing operations of a greenfield manufacturing facility. You will own the plant performance, from construction through commissioning to steady production, with responsibility for safety, quality, budgets, and capital projects.

The role requires an engineering background, 10+ years in manufacturing leadership, and a proven track record delivering large-scale capital programs, building teams, and achieving