Plant Manager

Job DetailsJob Location: Summerville, SC 29483Reports To: Director of Manufacturing
Position Type: Salaried / Exempt

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and day-to-day operations of the assigned manufacturing plant. This position provides leadership and direction to production, supervisory, and support teams to ensure the plant consistently meets production schedules, quality standards, safety expectations, labor goals, and operational objectives.

The Plant Manager is responsible for creating a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and employee engagement while ensuring the plant operates efficiently and supports the company’s overall business goals.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who is visible and engaged on the production floor, develops strong relationships with employees and supervisors, identifies opportunities for improvement, and holds teams accountable for achieving measurable results.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Production and Operations

Responsible for producing and achieving weekly and quarterly production schedules.
Monitor daily production performance and address obstacles that may impact schedule achievement.
Review production efficiencies and identify opportunities to improve labor utilization, productivity, and workflow.
Complete and review weekly efficiency reporting and communicate results to leadership.
Ensure production departments are properly staffed and organized to meet production requirements.
Monitor overtime and work with supervisors to control overtime while maintaining production goals.
Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to improve throughput and efficiency.
Maintain a strong presence on the production floor and regularly communicate with employees and supervisors regarding production goals and challenges.
Oversee our maintenance department for our facilities & production equipment. 

Quality and Warranty

Partner with Quality leadership to improve product quality and reduce rework.
Monitor quality trends and take corrective action when performance does not meet expectations.
Work to reduce warranty claims and identify recurring issues requiring corrective action.
Ensure quality concerns are communicated promptly to the appropriate departments.
Ensure the Material Review Board (MRB) process is maintained and that issues are reviewed and processed in a timely manner.

Safety & Compliance

Enforce all company safety policies, procedures, and expectations throughout the plant.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment.
Hold supervisors and employees accountable for following established safety procedures.
Participate in safety initiatives, investigations, audits, and corrective actions.
Identify potential safety hazards and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken promptly.
Promote a culture where employees are encouraged to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

Leadership & Employee Development

Lead, coach, mentor, and develop supervisors and mid-level management.
Establish clear expectations and hold leadership teams accountable for performance.
Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to supervisors and employees.
Identify leadership development opportunities and assist in building a strong internal leadership pipeline.
Maintain open communication with employees and promote a positive and respectful work environment.
Recognize strong performance and encourage employee engagement and teamwork.
Address performance and attendance concerns promptly and consistently in partnership with Human Resources.

HR

Submit all required HR documentation accurately and within established deadlines, including:

Termination Reports
90-Day Evaluations
Performance Write-Ups
Pay Change Requests
PTO Requests
Other required employee documentation

Maintain the department organizational chart and identify staffing needs.
Prioritize open positions based on production requirements and business needs.
Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, hiring, retention, employee relations, and performance management.
Monitor employee retention and identify opportunities to improve engagement and reduce turnover.
Ensure plant leadership follows company policies and employment practices consistently.

5S & Continuous Improvement

Review 5S audits conducted throughout the plant and ensure corrective actions are completed.
Promote a culture of organization, cleanliness, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and eliminate unnecessary costs.
Encourage supervisors and employees to identify and implement process improvements.

Materials  & Cross-Functional Communication

Communicate with Engineering, Purchasing, Quality, and other support departments when materials or parts are incorrect, damaged, defective, or otherwise unsuitable for production.
Ensure material and part-related issues are documented and corrective action is taken within a reasonable timeframe.
Escalate recurring or significant material issues to the appropriate leadership team.
Work collaboratively with other departments to minimize production interruptions.

Financial & Cost Management

Review and understand plant-related financial performance.
Monitor labor costs, overtime, consumables, damages, rework, and other operational expenses.
Review Profit & Loss information and identify areas requiring corrective action.
Make operational decisions that support productivity while controlling unnecessary costs.
Hold department leaders accountable for managing resources responsibly.

QualificationsRequired

Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production scheduling, and labor management.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop supervisors and mid-level management.
Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to analyze trends and use data to make informed business decisions.
Ability to review and understand Profit & Loss statements and operational expenses.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to hold teams accountable while maintaining positive employee relationships.

Preferred

Experience in boat manufacturing, composite manufacturing, marine manufacturing, or a similar production environment.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, continuous improvement, or similar manufacturing methodologies.
Experience managing multiple production departments.
Experience with quality improvement and warranty reduction initiatives.