Startup Plant Manager: Lead Safe, Lean Manufacturing

HTI; Belton (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

HTI is seeking a Plant Manager in Belton, South Carolina to lead the startup and ongoing operations of a new manufacturing plant. You will oversee production, maintenance, quality, safety, and environmental compliance, building strong teams and disciplined processes from the ground up.

The role requires extensive startup experience, hands-on leadership, and a focus on safety, quality, and customer-focused performance.

Qualifications

• Significant progression to leadership in manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading plant startups, expansions, or new line launches.
• Experience leading manufacturing teams through supervisors and frontline leadership.
• Knowledge of manufacturing safety, quality, and operations systems.
• Experience developing or managing manufacturing KPIs and driving results.
• Financial acumen with plant operating costs, budgets, or P&L insight.
• Experience with capital expenditure projects and ROI justification.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate across operations, engineering, quality, sales, and maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Lead startup, commissioning, and ongoing operation of the manufacturing facility.
• Lead plant operations with accountability for safety, quality, production, maintenance, and costs.
• Coach supervisors and develop staff with clear expectations and accountability.
• Establish safety culture in line with OSHA and environmental requirements.
• Foster a quality-focused culture emphasizing defect prevention and CI.
• Ensure production schedules and customer commitments are met.
• Maintain cross-functional communication across functions.
• Develop and monitor KPIs related to safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and disciplined problem solving for CI.
• Evaluate plant performance using financial data; identify corrective actions.
• Manage plant P&L awareness, operating expenses, and cost drivers.
• Develop CapEx proposals with ROI justification and business cases.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Purchasing, Sales, and leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve throughput, labor, equipment, and costs.
• Maintain floor presence; understand equipment, processes, and staff.
• Support environmental compliance and wastewater management.

Skills

Leadership

Startup/Launch

Safety & Compliance

Communication

Problem Solving

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business/Operations

Woodworking/manufacturing background (preferred)

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

5S

KPI Development

CapEx ROI/Analysis

Job description

HTI is seeking a Plant Manager in Belton, South Carolina to lead the startup and ongoing operations of a new manufacturing plant. You will oversee production, maintenance, quality, safety, and environmental compliance, building strong teams and disciplined processes from the ground up.

The role requires extensive startup experience, hands-on leadership, and a focus on safety, quality, and customer-focused performance.