The General Assembly Plant Director is responsible for leading all operations within the General Assembly department, applying Stellantis Industrial System (SIS) principles to achieve production, quality, cost, and delivery objectives. This role champions a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, with a strong focus on safety, employee engagement, and product integrity.
The Director drives strategic alignment and workforce engagement across a large, multi-shift unionized operation. This includes oversight of both hourly and salaried teams spanning Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering functions.
The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, proven executive leadership, and strong business acumen. They must be capable of influencing senior manufacturing and executive leadership while inspiring and developing high-performing teams. The Director will lead lean manufacturing and change management initiatives, fostering a results-driven environment committed to excellence in all aspects of manufacturing and business operations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead center operations to meet safety, quality, production, profitability, and customer service goals using lean manufacturing principles.
- Manage all center personnel across maintenance, quality, and engineering (hourly and salaried).
- Monitor daily expenditures, investigate anomalies and implement savings
- Champion lean initiatives, change management, and employee engagement through coaching and feedback.
- Ensure audit compliance and drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale.
- Allocate resources to support project execution.
- Oversee launch and mid-cycle activities, cost reduction efforts, and product safety enhancements.
- Track launch performance and apply PDCA as needed.
- Align project plans with maintenance and engineering teams.
- Eliminate waste across operations.
- Foster teamwork and proactive problem-solving in a positive work environment.
- Lead initiatives to implement new technologies or methods to enhance productivity.
- Manage budgets, equipment, and materials for the department.
- Coordinate with maintenance teams to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
- Collaborate with other departments to align production goals and priorities.
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree and minimum 10 years' experience in operations management experience in a high-volume environment, minimum of 8 years automotive Assembly experience in various leadership roles.
- Ability to work any shift and overtime as required
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interface with various levels of employees within all areas of the Plant from hourly represented employees, union leadership, salary staff to Senior Leadership as required
- Ability to build effective business relationships with plant leadership and customers
- Ability to effectively lead a diverse workforce, teach, coach and mentor employees to go above and beyond required operational and business objectives
- Must have a strong working knowledge of Body-In-White, Paint, Assembly Operations, Logistics and Maintenance
- Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing or continuous improvement systems, such as TPS and Lean Manufacturing operation
- Knowledge of other process systems, quality systems, throughput, standardization, and product/process launch
- Ability to manage and coordinate complex projects while maintaining simplistic communication with others
- Must have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
Preferred Requirements:- Advanced degree in a technical field
- Strong problem solving and analytical skills, Six Sigma methodology
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Suite software programs
