Plant Manager (Manufacturing & Machine Operations)

Amtech•Carlisle, PA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day manufacturing operations, including production, machine operations, maintenance, purchasing, safety, quality, environmental performance, and workforce effectiveness. This role ensures efficient, safe, and cost-effective plant operations while driving continuous improvement, optimizing equipment reliability, managing vendor relationships, maintaining strong labor relations in a union environment, and proactively managing operational risk. The Plant Manager also champions sustainability initiatives and ensures alignment with customer expectations through a strong voice-of-customer approach.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field (or equivalent experience)
7+ years of manufacturing experience with progressive leadership responsibility
3+ years in a plant or production leadership role
Hands-on experience with machine operations and equipment management
Experience in a unionized manufacturing environment
Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles

Nice To Haves

Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt)
Experience with plant-level purchasing or supply chain management
Experience supporting labor relations or union negotiations
Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred)
Experience leading sustainability or environmental compliance initiatives

Responsibilities

Lead all plant operations to achieve production, quality, cost, delivery, and environmental performance targets
Oversee production planning, scheduling, and execution to meet customer demand
Monitor KPIs including throughput, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, and energy/resource utilization
Ensure optimal utilization of equipment, materials, and workforce
Manage production capacity planning to align labor, equipment, and materials with forecasted demand
Oversee machine operations, ensuring reliability, performance, and minimal downtime
Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs
Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for equipment and production issues
Oversee plant-level purchasing activities, including raw materials, consumables, and equipment
Manage vendor relationships to ensure quality, cost competitiveness, and on-time delivery
Partner with supply chain/procurement to align sourcing strategies with production needs
Optimize inventory levels and reduce excess/obsolete inventory
Negotiate pricing, contracts, and service agreements
Lead plant-wide risk assessment processes across operations, equipment, safety, supply chain, and labor
Identify, evaluate, and mitigate operational, financial, and regulatory risks
Implement controls and contingency plans to minimize business disruption
Ensure alignment with enterprise risk management frameworks and internal controls
Drive a proactive risk-awareness culture across all levels of the plant
Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence initiatives
Identify and eliminate waste, improve processes, and increase productivity
Lead cost reduction initiatives without compromising safety, quality, or compliance
Standardize processes and drive consistency across shifts
Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and regulatory requirements
Ensure compliance with all required safety training, certifications, and company policies across the workforce
Promote a strong safety-first culture and safe work practices at all times
Lead environmental and sustainability initiatives, including: Reduction in CO₂ emissions and energy consumption, Waste and pollution reduction programs, Resource efficiency improvements (water, materials, utilities)
Partner with customers and internal stakeholders to meet sustainability expectations
Lead incident investigations and corrective actions
Ensure products meet internal quality standards and customer specifications
Integrate voice-of-customer insights into production, quality, and improvement initiatives
Drive customer-focused quality metrics, responsiveness, and issue resolution
Partner with quality teams to reduce defects, scrap, and rework
Support audits and maintain compliance with quality systems (e.g., ISO)
Lead operations in a unionized environment in alignment with the CBA
Partner with HR/labor relations on contract administration, grievances, and investigations
Participate in grievance resolution and arbitration preparation
Build strong relationships with union representatives and employees
Ensure consistent application of policies and contract terms
Support labor negotiations with operational input
Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, operators, and staff
Drive workforce engagement, accountability, and performance management
Oversee employee time and attendance processes to ensure accurate reporting, compliance with labor agreements, and effective workforce planning
Support hiring, training, and succession planning
Foster a high-performance, team-oriented culture.
Manage plant budget (labor, materials, purchasing, operating expenses)
Drive cost control, productivity improvements, and margin enhancement
Report on plant performance to senior leadership