Plant Manager

An experienced leader will stand up our new manufacturing facility in Denton, TX and run it through go-live into steady-state. The plant will include sheet metal operations (laser, punch, bend, weld, paint), electrical panel assembly, and HVAC unit assembly lines, with a strong emphasis on automation and robotic solutions. This is a new facility start-up. The incumbent will partner directly with executive leadership on project execution, from facility fit-out and equipment commissioning through hiring, process validation, and production launch. The role carries full operational accountability once the plant is live, including safety, quality, cost, delivery, and P&L performance, and will lead the plant leadership team across manufacturing engineering, production, and maintenance. We are looking for a strategic operator who thrives in a project-driven, start-up environment, demonstrates teamwork, and empowers leaders to achieve excellence. Effective communication, executive presence, and the ability to inspire, delegate, and build an organization from scratch are essential. This long-term opportunity offers the chance to build a new plant end-to-end, shape its culture and standards, and grow with the organization as our Texas footprint scales. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Partner with the Executive Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead the Denton plant from facility fit-out through start-up, go-live, and into steady-state operations, including layout, equipment installation and commissioning, process validation, staffing ramp-up, and production launch. Own full site operational and financial performance post go-live, including budget, P&L, capital spend, and key operating KPIs. Build and lead the plant leadership team, including manufacturing engineering, production, and maintenance. Develop the organizational structure, talent pipeline, and succession plan for the site. Oversee sheet metal and electrical panel assembly operations, ensuring process capability, throughput, and quality targets are met. Oversee HVAC unit assembly lines, ensuring takt time, line balancing, quality at source, and on-time delivery. Drive the deployment and scaling of automation and robotic solutions across the value stream. Establish operational standards for safety, quality, on-time delivery, cost control, process improvement, and waste reduction. Lead capital planning and multi-year investment strategy for the site, in partnership with finance and executive leadership. Contribute to enterprise standardization efforts across STULZ USA plants. Foster a culture of clear accountability, high productivity, and teamwork. Drive and instill a mindset of continuous improvement. Troubleshoot and resolve operational challenges to minimize disruptions and maintenance problems, ensuring minimum costs and preventing operational delays. Promote a customer‑centric approach by anticipating and addressing customer needs. Build trusting relationships by encouraging open dialogue and transparency. Identify operational and project risks and develop mitigation strategies. Enforce high‑performance standards, ensuring the team’s efforts align with the company mission. Be results and data‑driven, implementing change based on insights from data analysis. Collaborate with contractors, equipment vendors, and internal teams (engineering, supply chain, quality, EHS, HR, finance) to ensure smooth setup and operational readiness. Navigate and interpret ERP System, preferred SAP. Qualifications: Manufacturing (HVAC preferable) Sheet metal operations (laser, punch, bend, weld, paint) preferred Electrical panel assembly preferred Automation and robotics experience preferred New facility start‑up experience preferred Strategic and Executive‑Level Leadership Supervisory and Organizational Development Skills Six Sigma / Lean Manufacturing P&L and Capital Planning Decision‑Making Quality Assurance Project and Program Management Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field required. 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, including project management and multi‑department leadership. Proven success leading plant setup, new facility start‑up, or major expansion projects end‑to‑end. Hands‑on experience with sheet metal fabrication, electrical panel assembly, and / or HVAC unit assembly lines preferred. Experience deploying automation and robotic solutions in a production environment preferred. Track record of building and developing leadership teams, including leading managers and senior professionals. Experience owning site P&L, capital planning, and long‑range operational strategy. Strong knowledge of operational standards, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement principles. Exceptional leadership, executive communication, and supervisory skills. Proficiency in data‑driven decision‑making and strategic planning. Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to an office environment in a manufacturing plant, including exposure to sheet metal fabrication, electrical panel assembly, and HVAC unit assembly areas. #J-18808-Ljbffr