Plant Manager

Davies Molding

$90K — $120K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
  • 7-10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or management role.
  • Experience in plastics manufacturing, injection molding, or related environments preferred.
  • Proven experience managing production teams and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, and ISO standards preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Direct daily manufacturing operations encompassing production, scheduling, maintenance, and quality assurance.
  • Partner with leadership to execute strategic initiatives and operational goals.
  • Monitor and ensure adherence to production schedules and quality standards.
  • Develop and mentor department leaders through coaching and performance management.
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives such as Lean Manufacturing and waste reduction.
  • Manage operational budgets and ensure cost-effectiveness in production.
  • Foster collaboration across teams to resolve operational challenges and optimize planning.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead a full-service manufacturing facility in a diverse and innovative environment.
  • Support continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
  • Chance to develop and mentor future leaders within the organization.
  • Engagement in strategic decision-making in partnership with senior leadership.
  • Involvement in a culture that promotes safety, accountability, and teamwork.
Full Job Description
Versatile Mold and Design, Inc. (VMD) designs and builds molds and dies for numerous multi-national companies in a wide variety of industries. Versatile also acts as a product development partner with our customers by offering prototyping services, design support and part production. Since our inception, Versatile has been committed to improving the long-term competitive edge of our customers through innovative engineering. We are a full-service molding facility capable of providing support through all phases of the development process. We have extensive experience with both thermoset and thermoplastic materials. We design and build tooling for injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, and metal stamping. Versatile also offers general machining, wire and sinker EDM services as well as tool maintenance, repair and refurbishment.

Job Description / Primary Responsibilities
  • Direct and oversee daily manufacturing operations, including production, scheduling, maintenance, quality, materials management, and plant support functions.
  • Partner with the Vice President of Operations to execute strategic initiatives and achieve operational goals.
  • Ensure production schedules, customer delivery commitments, and quality standards are consistently met.
  • Lead and develop supervisors and department managers through coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
  • Promote and enforce a culture of safety, regulatory compliance, and adherence to company policies and procedures.
  • Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, efficiency, scrap, downtime, quality, labor utilization, and on-time delivery.
  • Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, and Supply Chain teams to optimize production planning and resolve operational challenges.
  • Identify opportunities for continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, process optimization, waste reduction, and cost-saving initiatives.
  • Manage plant budgets and operating expenses while supporting profitability goals established by senior leadership.
  • Ensure equipment reliability through preventive maintenance programs and capital improvement planning.
  • Oversee staffing needs, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives to maintain a high-performing team.
  • Support ISO quality standards, audits, corrective actions, and continuous compliance efforts.
  • Serve as the operational leader in the absence of the Vice President of Operations, making sound business decisions to maintain continuity of operations.
  • Foster cross-functional collaboration and maintain open, professional communication across all departments.

Leadership Responsibilities
  • Build a culture focused on accountability, respect, teamwork, and operational excellence.
  • Mentor leaders throughout the organization and encourage employee development.
  • Lead by example in promoting safety, quality, integrity, and continuous improvement.
  • Drive employee engagement and recognize performance achievements.
  • Champion change management initiatives that improve plant performance and organizational effectiveness.

Job Requirements

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
  • Equivalent combination of education and progressive manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.


Skills & Relevant Work Experience

Experience
  • 7-10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or management role.
  • Experience leading operations in plastics manufacturing, injection molding, tooling, or a related manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
  • Proven experience managing production teams, quality systems, maintenance functions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Demonstrated success in improving productivity, reducing costs, and driving operational performance.
  • Experience working within ISO-certified manufacturing environments is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Strong leadership and people management skills.
  • Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
  • Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Understanding of production planning, inventory control, quality systems, and maintenance management.
  • Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and labor costs.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of the organization.
  • Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Physical Requirements
  • Ability to regularly walk the manufacturing floor and observe operations.
  • Ability to stand, bend, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
  • Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment requiring appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Travel
  • Occasional travel may be required to customer sites, supplier locations, or other company facilities.

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