Plant Manager - Crew B

Slate Auto•Warsaw, IN

2d•$170,574 - $284,289

About The Position

At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. We are looking for a Plant Manager - Crew B who is not only an experienced manufacturing leader, but also a builder. This role owns the entire factory and will be critical in taking the plant from early operations through scale. The Plant Manager will lead teams through ambiguity, establish foundations, and continuously improve while balancing startup speed with safe, high-quality execution. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone excited to build systems, teams, and culture from the ground up.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field (advanced degree a plus).
15+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, including senior plant or operations leadership.
Experience in automotive, EV, battery, or other high-mix / high-growth manufacturing environments preferred.
Proven ability to build teams, processes, and structure in fast-moving or ambiguous environments.
Strong Lean Manufacturing and operational excellence foundation, paired with practical problem-solving skills.
Comfortable being hands-on when needed while also thinking strategically about scale.
Strong business judgment with the ability to balance speed, cost, quality, and long-term sustainability.
Resilient, adaptable, and energized by the challenges of a startup environment.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Responsibilities

Own full responsibility for plant operations, from day-to-day execution to long-term scaling strategy.
Lead and develop cross-functional teams across Production, Maintenance, Manufacturing Engineering, Logistics, and Safety.
Build plant operating systems, routines, and standards where they don’t yet exist—and improve them as we grow.
Drive performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People with clear accountability and transparency.
Partner closely with Engineering and Program teams to support new product introduction, process development, and rapid production ramp-ups.
Create a strong safety culture and ensure compliance while maintaining startup agility.
Solve problems directly on the floor—leading root cause analysis and fast, sustainable countermeasures.
Hire, develop, and grow leaders and teams capable of scaling with the business.
Manage plant budgets, capital investments, and resource prioritization in a capital-conscious startup environment.
Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and “get-it-done” collaboration.
Serve as a key member of the company’s leadership team, contributing to overall manufacturing and business strategy.