Manager Plant

Advanced Drainage Systems•Harrisonville, MO

About The Position

Advanced Drainage Systems is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee plant operations, ensure safety, drive production, and collaborate across departments to achieve business objectives. The role is responsible for plant performance across safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, and employee retention, while leading continuous improvement and reinforcing consistent, standardized work practices. The Plant Manager manages staffing, succession planning, and talent development; coaches frontline leaders; and supports employee engagement to improve morale, retention, and productivity. The role translates corporate and regional strategies into plant-level objectives, oversees inventory, materials management, fulfillment accuracy, and the operational budget, and works closely with EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality. The manager also communicates plant performance to employees and leadership, participates in regional and enterprise initiatives, and builds relationships with local organizations, schools, and events. Advanced Drainage Systems manufactures stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions and describes its culture as inclusive, innovative, and sustainability-focused. The company reports recycling over half a billion pounds of plastic annually and operates a global network of approximately 70 manufacturing plants and 40 distribution centers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or significant manufacturing and management experience.
10+ years of managerial experience in a production environment.
Proven leadership and interpersonal skills.
Strong operational skills and knowledge of Lean business practices.
Ability to drive results in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication skills.
Ability to work as a team leader or team member with diverse groups.
Regularly required to sit, stand, reach, bend, and move about the facility.
Occasionally lift and move up to 25 lbs.
Travel requirement: 10%.

Responsibilities

Champion a safe work environment and ensure compliance with regulatory, environmental, and corporate standards.
Drive plant performance across safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, and employee retention metrics.
Lead and sustain continuous improvement using Lean principles and data-driven problem-solving to eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency.
Reinforce standardized processes and work practices to promote discipline, consistency, and accountability.
Manage staffing levels, succession planning, and talent development to meet production needs and build leadership capability across shifts.
Coach, mentor, and engage frontline leaders to strengthen decision-making and team performance.
Foster employee engagement strategies to reduce turnover, improve morale, and sustain productivity.
Translate corporate and regional strategies into actionable plant-level objectives, using technology, data, and continuous-improvement tools to improve KPIs safely.
Oversee inventory control, materials management, and fulfillment accuracy to support production goals and customer service.
Develop, manage, and adjust the operational budget in response to business demands and market conditions.
Build cross-functional relationships with EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to align operational plans, schedules, and priorities.
Communicate plant performance consistently to employees, peers, and leadership.
Participate in regional initiatives and enterprise projects supporting manufacturing excellence and corporate priorities.
Engage with local organizations, schools, and events to build community relationships, increase brand visibility, and position the plant as a preferred local employer.

Benefits

Medical and prescription drug plans, telemedicine with a medical plan, High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA).
Dental and vision plans, virtual physical therapy, and an employee assistance program (EAP).
Voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnification programs.
401(k) retirement program with company match.
Voluntary employee stock purchase plan.
Financial wellness planning.
Paid parental leave.
Flexible spending accounts (FSA) for child care and health care.
Short-term and long-term disability.
Basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
Adoption financial reimbursement.
Tuition reimbursement.
Voluntary life insurance for employees, spouses, and children.
Voluntary identity theft and fraud protection.
Benefits stated as 100% paid by ADS.