Plant Manager

Helios Hydraulics America•Buffalo Grove, IL

12d•$150,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Schultes Precision Manufacturing is seeking a hands-on Plant Manager to lead the overall performance of its manufacturing facility. The role has direct responsibility for manufacturing operations, production execution, and plant throughput. The Plant Manager leads and works closely with the managers responsible for Operations, Quality/Engineering, Maintenance, and Scheduling/Purchasing, aligning priorities, removing cross-functional barriers, supporting improvement activities, and ensuring improvements are implemented and sustained. Departmental managers continue to run their own daily activities. This is a highly visible, floor-focused leadership role. The Plant Manager is expected to engage directly with managers and employees and address operational issues affecting safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and throughput. Sales, Quoting, and Customer Service are outside the position’s direct responsibility, but the Plant Manager collaborates with those teams to ensure customer commitments are supported by plant capacity and performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience, including significant leadership responsibility.
At least 5 years of experience leading manufacturing operations, multiple plant functions, or an entire facility.
Experience leading through functional managers in areas such as Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Scheduling, or Purchasing.
Demonstrated success improving throughput, productivity, quality, cost, and on-time delivery.
Experience in machining, metalworking, engineered products, or precision manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, root-cause analysis, and continuous-improvement practices.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing performance data.
Strong communication, business judgment, and people-leadership skills.
Ability to perform the stated physical duties, including occasionally lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.
For positions requiring access to applicable export-controlled information, applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR or otherwise be authorized to access the information under U.S. law.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a high-mix, low-volume precision-machining environment.
Working knowledge of CNC mill and lathe operations.
Experience in a make-to-order or engineered-to-order environment.
Familiarity with ISO-based quality management systems.
Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous-improvement certification.
Experience leading a facility through growth, operational improvement, or organizational change.

Responsibilities

Lead overall manufacturing performance, with direct accountability for production execution and throughput.
Maintain a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and ensure production priorities are communicated and executed.
Identify and remove constraints involving labor, equipment, materials, tooling, quality, engineering, or scheduling.
Improve throughput, schedule attainment, productivity, equipment utilization, lead time, and on-time delivery.
Develop and lead recovery plans when production or delivery performance falls behind expectations.
Address root causes to reduce reliance on expediting, excessive overtime, and short-term workarounds.
Lead, coach, and develop managers responsible for Quality and Engineering, Maintenance, and Scheduling and Purchasing.
Set plant-level priorities and ensure departmental activities support overall business needs.
Work with functional managers to define actions, owners, timelines, and expected results, and hold managers accountable for performance, employee development, and improvement-plan execution.
Support functional managers without unnecessarily taking over their daily responsibilities and ensure departments collaborate effectively.
Lead cross-functional improvements focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and throughput.
Use performance data and structured problem-solving to identify and address operational issues.
Ensure improvement work has clear owners, deadlines, and measurable outcomes; remove barriers and verify solutions are incorporated into standard work, procedures, training, or maintenance plans.
Follow up to ensure improvement activities produce sustainable results.
Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, urgency, and continuous improvement, with clear expectations for leaders and employees.
Develop the plant leadership team and strengthen succession planning for critical roles.
Partner with Human Resources on staffing, training, retention, performance management, and employee relations.
Promote a safe, respectful workplace where employees are encouraged to identify problems and recommend solutions.
Collaborate with Sales, Quoting, and Customer Service so customer commitments align with plant capacity and operational performance.