Position SummaryThe General Manager - Manufacturing is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, profitability, and strategic direction of the manufacturing facility. This position oversees production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, safety, engineering, and administrative functions to ensure the plant operates efficiently, safely, and profitably.
The General Manager will lead a cross-functional team, establish operational priorities, drive continuous improvement, manage budgets and resources, and ensure that customer requirements and company objectives are consistently achieved.
Key ResponsibilitiesOperations & Production- Direct and oversee all manufacturing operations to achieve production, cost, quality, delivery, and efficiency objectives.
- Develop and execute annual operating plans and production strategies.
- Monitor production performance, capacity utilization, labor productivity, and operating costs.
- Ensure effective production planning, scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation.
- Identify and eliminate bottlenecks, waste, downtime, and operational inefficiencies.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for plant performance.
Leadership & People Management- Lead, coach, and develop management and supervisory teams.
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability throughout the organization.
- Build a culture of teamwork, continuous improvement, safety, quality, and operational excellence.
- Oversee workforce planning, staffing, training, performance management, and succession planning.
- Partner with Human Resources on employee relations and organizational development.
Financial & Business Management- Have overall responsibility for the manufacturing facility's financial performance.
- Work with Accounting to develop and manage operating budgets, capital expenditures, and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Monitor manufacturing costs, labor costs, material usage, overhead, and profitability.
- Identify opportunities to improve margins and return on investment.
- Review financial and operational results and implement corrective actions when required.
Quality- Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and applicable quality standards.
- Establish accountability for quality performance and corrective/preventive actions.
- Work with Quality teams to reduce scrap, rework, defects, and customer complaints.
- Support audits, certifications, and compliance requirements.
Safety & Environmental Compliance- Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, environmental, and company requirements.
- Establish safety objectives and monitor performance.
- Ensure appropriate training, procedures, inspections, and corrective actions are implemented.
- Promote a workplace where employees are empowered to identify and address safety concerns.
Supply Chain & Materials- Work closely with Purchasing, Materials, Logistics, and Production Planning teams.
- Ensure availability of materials and components required to meet production schedules.
- Improve inventory management, material flow, and supplier performance.
- Monitor supply-chain risks and develop contingency plans where appropriate.
Maintenance & Engineering- Oversee equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and facility requirements.
- Ensure effective management of preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, automation, and process improvements.
- Evaluate new technologies and manufacturing methods that can improve productivity and competitiveness.
Continuous Improvement- Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, or other continuous-improvement initiatives as applicable.
- Establish measurable productivity and efficiency goals.
- Promote data-driven problem solving and root-cause analysis.
- Drive initiatives to improve throughput, reduce waste, lower costs, and improve quality.
Customer & Commercial Support- Partner with Sales to ensure customer requirements are understood and achieved.
- Support major customer relationships, production planning, quotations, and new-product introductions.
- Communicate operational risks, capacity constraints, and delivery issues to senior leadership.
- Participate in strategic planning and business-development initiatives when appropriate
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
- Typically 8-15+ years of progressive manufacturing experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing a manufacturing plant, facility, or significant production operation.
- Strong experience leading cross-functional teams.
- Proven knowledge of manufacturing processes, production planning, quality systems, maintenance, and supply-chain operations.
- Experience with budgeting, financial analysis, cost control, and capital planning.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
- Strong understanding of workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
Preferred Experience- Experience in a high-volume, discrete, process, or engineered manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing managers and hourly workforces.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
- Experience with automation, capital projects, and manufacturing technology.
- Experience with ISO or other applicable quality-management systems.
- Demonstrated success improving productivity, quality, delivery, and profitability.
Skills & Competencies- Strategic and operational leadership
- Financial and business acumen
- Production and process management
- Continuous improvement
- Problem solving and decision making
- Team building and employee development
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Change management
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
- Data analysis and KPI management
- Customer focus
- Safety and quality leadership
Reporting StructureReports to: Owner
Work EnvironmentThis position requires regular presence in a manufacturing facility and frequent interaction with production employees, supervisors, managers, customers, suppliers, and corporate leadership. The General Manager must be comfortable working in a production environment and complying with all applicable safety requirements and personal protective equipment (PPE) policies.
