Plant Manager – Warehouse & Logistics

PLA Family of Companies•Bridgeton, MO

12d•$115,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

PLA Family of Companies is seeking an experienced, hands-on Plant Manager to lead its newly relocated warehouse, reverse-logistics, and pallet repair operation in Bridgeton, Missouri. The high-volume facility supports Walmart reverse-logistics operations, including inbound pallet and reusable plastic container (RPC) returns, sorting, outbound shipping, CHEP pallet repair, and inventory storage. The facility is approximately 89,000 square feet, with a contracted expansion to approximately 116,000 square feet, and has approximately 54 employees across production, forklift and yard operations, shipping, maintenance, supervision, and administration. This is an on-site leadership role with primary accountability for safety, production, quality, inventory accuracy, financial performance, customer satisfaction, and employee development. The Plant Manager is expected to provide visible, hands-on leadership on the production floor; bring structure and accountability to the operation; develop supervisors and employees; and drive consistent execution and measurable improvements in productivity, quality, safety, and profitability. The schedule is full-time and based on operational needs, with flexible hours as required. The role includes leading daily facility operations; managing production planning, staffing, labor allocation, workflow, budgets, costs, and performance; coordinating maintenance; ensuring compliance with OSHA and company safety standards; and maintaining strong relationships with Walmart, other customers, and company leadership. The position requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience, at least five years of progressive operations management experience, and a valid driver's license. Candidates must be able to lift 50–100 pounds when required, with or without reasonable accommodation. The posted base salary is $115,000–$120,000 annually, depending on experience. The role is eligible for an annual performance-based bonus of up to 15% of base salary. The company offers a daily pay option, paid time off, medical, dental and vision insurance, an HSA with a company contribution, a 401(k) with employer match, prescription coverage, basic life and AD&D insurance, voluntary short-term disability, an employee assistance program, additional voluntary benefits, and employee discounts. The employee will primarily work in a warehouse environment and may be exposed to dust, hot and cold temperatures, and moderate to high noise levels. Steel-toed boots and other personal protective equipment are required. PLA and its Family of Companies is an equal opportunity employer and provides application assistance or accommodation upon request.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressive operations management experience in manufacturing, warehouse operations, distribution, reverse logistics, or a comparable high-volume production environment.
Proven experience managing large hourly workforces, developing supervisors and team leaders, improving employee performance, and building accountability.
Demonstrated experience with P&L or cost-center management, operating budgets, labor costs, productivity metrics, and cost-reduction initiatives.
Strong understanding of production planning, labor scheduling, material handling, process improvement, quality control, and operational performance management.
Knowledge of shipping and receiving, inventory control, forklift operations, warehouse processes, and asset tracking.
Experience coordinating equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance programs, and downtime reduction.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong understanding of OSHA requirements, warehouse and manufacturing safety practices, forklift safety, and employee safety training.
Excellent leadership, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with employees, customers, and senior management.
Valid driver's license required.
Hands-on leadership approach and willingness to spend significant time on the production floor.
Ability to work flexible hours based on operational needs and support a fast-paced warehouse and production environment.
Ability to lift 50–100 pounds when required, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
Experience in pallet repair, pallet recycling, reusable asset management, reverse logistics, or third-party logistics operations.
Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), inventory systems, or production reporting software.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage daily warehouse, reverse-logistics, and pallet repair operations, ensuring safety, productivity, quality, cost, and customer-service expectations are met.
Oversee inbound pallet and RPC returns, sorting, CHEP pallet repair, inventory storage, shipping, receiving, and outbound logistics.
Maintain a visible, hands-on presence on the production floor and ensure operational standards, accountability, and consistent execution.
Direct, coach, and develop supervisors, team leaders, production employees, forklift operators, maintenance personnel, and administrative staff.
Establish performance expectations, production goals, accountability measures, and standard operating procedures across departments.
Develop daily production schedules, staffing plans, labor allocation, and workflows to maximize efficiency and meet customer requirements.
Monitor pallet repair production, sorting accuracy, inventory movement, shipping performance, and material handling against quality and productivity targets.
Oversee facility financial performance, including P&L or cost-center management, labor expenses, operating budgets, cost control, and profitability.
Analyze operational indicators and implement corrective actions to increase throughput, reduce waste, and improve labor efficiency.
Ensure accurate inventory management and reporting for inbound and outbound pallets, reusable assets, repaired pallets, and stored materials.
Coordinate preventive maintenance, equipment repairs, and facility maintenance to minimize downtime.
Establish and enforce safety procedures, conduct facility inspections, and maintain compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety standards.
Build a strong safety culture through engagement, coaching, training, and proactive hazard identification and correction.
Maintain relationships with Walmart and other internal and external customers, meeting service expectations, quality standards, and operational commitments.
Partner with Regional Managers and Division Operations leadership to set performance goals and improve efficiency and profitability.
Monitor KPIs, including production output, labor productivity, cost per unit, inventory accuracy, equipment downtime, safety, and customer service.
Conduct regular audits of production processes, warehouse operations, inventory systems, maintenance, and workplace safety.
Recruit, train, develop, and retain qualified employees while promoting teamwork, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
Prepare and communicate operational reports, production results, labor metrics, financial performance, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership.
Troubleshoot and resolve operational challenges, production bottlenecks, quality concerns, inventory discrepancies, and customer issues.
Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and productive facility in compliance with company policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulations.

Benefits

Daily pay option to access earnings before payday.
Paid time off (PTO).
Medical insurance with three plan options through Blue Cross Blue Shield and low weekly premiums starting at $28.75.
Dental insurance, including preventive care coverage.
Vision insurance, including $10 eye exams and a $150 frame allowance through Superior Vision by MetLife.
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution of up to $750 annually.
401(k) retirement plan with up to a 4% employer match; eligibility begins the first of the month after 90 days.
Prescription drug coverage with generic medication copays starting at $10.
Basic life insurance and AD&D coverage provided at no cost upon employment.
Voluntary short-term disability coverage, with income replacement up to 60% of weekly covered earnings for eligible non-work-related injury or illness.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering free, confidential support.
Voluntary MetLife Legal and Identity Theft Services.
Pet insurance through ASPCA.
LifeMart employee discounts through ADP.
Dell Employee Purchase Program discounts for personal use.
Flexible benefits with multiple plan options.
Annual performance-based bonus opportunity of up to 15% of base salary.
Financial Wellness Consultant access through the 401(k) plan.