Plant Manager

Bay Insulation Systems•Saint Cloud, MN

About The Position

Bay Insulation of Minnesota Inc. is seeking a Plant Manager to lead the overall performance, leadership, and safe operation of its manufacturing facility. The role oversees production, customer service, maintenance, shipping, receiving, and administration, fostering teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement. The Plant Manager drives safety, product quality, on-time delivery, throughput, and cost management while ensuring compliance with OSHA, state and federal employment laws, and company policies and procedures. This is a highly hands-on position. The Plant Manager is expected to work on the production floor, help operate equipment, and load and unload trucks; the description estimates that about 80% of work time will be spent actively working on the floor. The role also includes leadership and administrative responsibilities to support plant operations and business objectives.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least 5 years of supervisory or management experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams.
Strong understanding of manufacturing safety standards, lean principles, and quality control processes.
Proficiency with ERP or inventory management systems, Microsoft Office, and production documentation.
Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Ability and willingness to perform hands-on physical work on the production floor, including helping operate equipment and loading and unloading trucks.
Ability to meet the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, and lifting throughout the shift.
Required to wear safety glasses and OSHA-compliant safety-toed footwear in production and warehouse areas.

Nice To Haves

Post-secondary education or technical training.
Experience with LTL/TL freight coordination and transportation management systems (TMS).
Knowledge of DOT regulations.
Preventive and predictive maintenance experience.
Bilingual in Spanish, depending on location.

Responsibilities

Champion a strong safety culture, lead by example, ensure compliance with OSHA, state, and company safety policies, conduct regular safety audits, and reinforce safe work practices.
Spend at least 30% of work time on the production floor engaging with employees to strengthen safety awareness and operational excellence.
Ensure products meet customer requirements and industry specifications; comply with UL and Home Innovation Research Lab testing requirements and maintain audit records.
Monitor process quality, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement to reduce defects and rework.
Schedule inbound materials, labor, production, and finished-product deliveries according to sales demand; confirm customer delivery dates and times; communicate shipment disruptions proactively to sales.
Manage plant profitability by maintaining accurate inventory, maximizing inventory turns, minimizing waste, and monitoring labor and material costs against budgets.
Ensure cycle counts and full inventory audits are completed accurately and on schedule.
Provide daily leadership and support to plant personnel, including production, office, and driver teams; set performance expectations and foster accountability, respect, communication, and learning.
Ensure adequate staffing, oversee the performance and integration of temporary-to-hire employees, recruit and hire staff, evaluate performance, and provide and document required training.
Administer coaching and disciplinary actions as needed.
Oversee or participate in operating and maintaining laminators, band saws, forklifts, and balers; perform or coordinate basic mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic troubleshooting; and ensure preventive maintenance schedules are followed.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, and company driver policies.
Manage vehicle, building, and grounds upkeep through scheduled inspections, and coordinate with leasing and fleet management to promptly address maintenance issues.
Communicate proactively with sales, corporate leadership, and other facilities about production, delivery, and service expectations; respond promptly to corporate requests and report operational issues to management in a timely manner.
Maintain clear, professional, positive, and cooperative communication.
Perform additional responsibilities as requested or assigned to support plant operations and business objectives.