Plant Operations Manager
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Industry: Marine Manufacturing
Relocation Package Offered
Position Summary
The Plant Operations Manager provides full operational leadership for a marine manufacturing facility operating in a high-mix, job shop environment. This role is responsible for safety, quality, delivery, cost control, and workforce engagement while driving continuous improvement across the operation.
The ideal candidate has a strong marine industry background and leads through servant leadership principles while maintaining operational discipline and financial accountability.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Lead daily plant operations including production, maintenance, materials, quality, and shipping
- Manage workflow in a high-mix, job shop layout while maintaining schedule adherence
- Drive on-time delivery and throughput performance
- Establish clear production rhythm and accountability at all levels
Continuous Improvement
- Strengthen process stability and standardization
- Improve flow, reduce bottlenecks, and increase labor productivity
- Lead structured problem-solving to eliminate recurring production issues
- Implement practical performance metrics that drive measurable results
Financial Performance
- Own plant-level operating performance and cost controls
- Manage labor efficiency, overhead, scrap, and material usage
- Support revenue growth through operational capability and execution
- Partner with leadership on forecasting, budgeting, and capital investments
Workforce & Culture
- Lead through servant leadership, setting clear expectations and supporting team success
- Develop supervisors and frontline leaders
- Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and safety
- Maintain strong safety discipline throughout the facility
Quality & Customer Alignment
- Maintain high marine industry quality standards
- Reduce rework and warranty exposure
- Align operations closely with engineering and customer requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Engineering, Industrial Leadership, or related field
- 7–15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
- Marine industry manufacturing experience preferred
- Experience operating within high-mix, job shop production environments
- Working knowledge of machining and foundry operations
- Strong financial and operational acumen
Leadership Profile
- Servant leader who develops people
- Decisive and performance-driven
- Practical, hands-on operator
- Strong communicator across all organizational levels
- Comfortable balancing structure with flexibility in a custom production setting
