Job Description

PLANT MANAGER

Location: Huntsville, AL Area

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Work Schedule: Onsite

Industry: Automotive Manufacturing

Product Focus: Molded Foam / Polyurethane Foam

ROLE SNAPSHOT

We are supporting a confidential automotive manufacturing client with a Plant Manager search in the Huntsville, Alabama area.

This is a senior plant leadership role responsible for the full performance of a molded foam manufacturing operation. The right person will lead safety, quality, production, delivery, cost, people, customer performance, lean manufacturing, materials, logistics, and plant financials.

This role needs a true plant leader. Someone who can walk the floor, understand the numbers, lead the team, handle customer pressure, and keep a fast-paced operation moving.

WHAT THIS PERSON WILL OWN

• Overall plant performance

• Safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people metrics

• 3 shift manufacturing leadership

• Hourly and salaried workforce management

• JIT production and customer delivery

• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement

• Materials, logistics, supply base, and inventory control

• Budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and plant financials

• Customer relationships and audit support

• Supervisor, manager, and plant staff development

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead daily plant operations across safety, quality, production, delivery, cost, and people

• Serve as the lean leader for the facility

• Lead hourly and salaried teams through the plant management structure

• Manage production targets in a fast-paced JIT manufacturing environment

• Drive Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, VAVE, TQM, and continuous improvement activity

• Partner with customers and internal teams on manufacturing strategy, cost reduction, and business planning

• Work with accounting and finance on budgeting, forecasting, and plant performance

• Support health, safety, environmental, quality, and customer audit processes

• Build a culture of accountability, communication, urgency, safety, and performance

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• 8 to 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience

• Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or senior manufacturing leadership experience

• Automotive manufacturing experience strongly preferred

• JIT manufacturing experience required

• Experience leading both hourly and salaried teams

• Strong lean manufacturing and continuous improvement background

• Experience with plant metrics, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, safety, quality, materials, logistics, and customer performance

• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and team development skills

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Commerce, Operations, or related field preferred.

Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.