Sr. Manufacturing Manager – Automotive

Software Placement Group; Saint Joseph (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Short-term and long-term disability

401K

Paid holidays and vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Relocation package available

Job summary

Software Placement Group is assisting an automotive manufacturer in St. Joseph, MI hire a Sr. Manufacturing Manager to lead plant operations and partner with the General Manager to drive profitability and continuous improvement.

The role emphasizes Lean, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, with 60-70% floor time and a history of managing 100+ employees across multi-shift operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or Associate’s degree acceptable.
• Minimum five years in an operations management role.
• Experience in metals environments (stamping, machining, fabrication) or automotive supplier.
• Experience overseeing direct and indirect reports, 100+ employees in multi-shift operations.
• Strong cost awareness: variable costs, labor planning, cost of manufacturing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the General Manager to evaluate plant P&L and monitor variable costs to maximize profitability.
• Direct daily production activities and lead 6-12 month planning cycle.
• Oversee the operations budget, labor planning, production scheduling, and material control.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, 5S initiatives, and plant cleanliness.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, customer specs, and environmental regulations.
• Lead proactive safety programs, including training and investigations.
• Build and manage the operations leadership team and onboarding processes.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and problem resolution.
• Manage schedules, attendance, and vacations of direct reports.
• Spend 60-70% of the day on the manufacturing floor.

Skills

Operations management

Metal stamping

Labor planning

Cost of manufacturing

People management

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Associate’s degree considered

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Location: St. Joseph, MI | Schedule: Full-time, on-site | Compensation: Competitive salary plus annual bonus potential

Overview

A stable, tech-driven automotive manufacturer with over 50 years in business is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Manager to lead plant operations. This is an opportunity to inherit a 100% permanent workforce, partner closely with the General Manager, and drive operational excellence at a facility equipped with cutting-edge technology and a newly remodeled office near the production floor.

What you'll do

• Partner with the General Manager to evaluate the plant P&L and monitor variable costs, including direct/indirect labor and tooling cost allocations, to maximize profitability
• Direct daily production activities and lead through a 6-12 month planning cycle, contributing to 1-2 year operational strategies
• Oversee the operations budget, daily labor planning, production scheduling, and material control to meet customer demands
• Drive Lean Manufacturing practices, 5S initiatives, and plant cleanliness
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, customer specifications, and state/federal environmental regulations, including wastewater and chemical handling
• Lead proactive safety programs, including employee training, incident investigations, and Workers’ Compensation processes
• Build and manage the operations leadership team, overseeing training matrices, onboarding, and employee development
• Foster a culture of mutual respect, teamwork, accountability, and collaborative problem resolution
• Manage direct reports’ schedules, attendance, and vacations, ensuring consistent application of company policies
• Spend 60-70% of the day on the manufacturing floor

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; Associate’s degree will be considered
• At least five years in a similar operations management role
• Experience in metals environments such as stamping, machining, fabrication, OR automotive supplier experience
• Experience overseeing direct and indirect reports
• Experience overseeing at least 100 people in multi-shift operationsWorking knowledge of variable cost, labor planning and labor costs, cost of manufacturing, etc.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Preferred qualifications

• Automation experience
• Lean/Six Sigma methodologies
• Experience with non-union workforces
• Working knowledge of ERP systems
• Automotive supplier experience
• Previous experience with product launches
• Experience with sales of at least 50M
• Experience leading root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Strong continuous improvement background with proven examples of scrap reductions, efficiency improvements, etc.

Compensation and benefits

• Competitive salary with annual bonus potential
• Medical, dental, and vision plans available after 90 days, with multiple plan options
• Short-term and long-term disability
• 401K
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Tuition reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Conservative relocation package available for regional candidates meeting the requirements

Why this role

This is a chance to take true ownership of operations for a stable, growing automotive employer with a 100% permanent workforce, a newly remodeled office near the production floor, and a plant updated with cutting-edge technology.