General Manager

General Manager

Overview

Electric Research and Manufacturing Cooperative, Inc. (ERMCO) is the leading manufacturer of distribution transformers and engineered electrical solutions, serving electric utilities, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and industrial customers across North America. Headquartered in Dyersburg, Tennessee, ERMCO delivers reliable, high-quality products that power homes, businesses, and communities across North America.

With a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, ERMCO is at the forefront of supporting grid modernization and the energy transition. Our vertically integrated operations, customer-focused culture, and investment in people and technology make ERMCO the Most Valued Partner for delivering resilient, sustainable power infrastructure for the future.

Who You Are

The General Manager is an inspirational leader and culture builder who thrives in complex environments and knows how to influence change across teams and functions. This role leads our Athens, GA plant, overseeing production, quality, engineering, and maintenance while fostering a workplace defined by accountability, engagement, and shared success .

We are seeking a transformational change leader —someone who energizes teams, strengthens collaboration, and drives performance by aligning people and processes with ERMCO’s vision. The ideal candidate brings operational excellence paired with a leadership style that inspires confidence, encourages innovation, and creates an environment where employees can do their best work.

*This is an onsite position in Athens, GA. Relocation assistance is available.

Responsibilities

What You Will Do

• Operational Leadership: Ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations across all plant functions while consistently meeting or exceeding production and quality goals.
• Set Vision and Strategy: Translate ERMCO’s enterprise goals into plant-level strategies that balance cultural transformation with operational performance.
• Deliver Results: Steward budgets, P&L, and capital investments with a focus on operational efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and long-term growth.
• Champion Culture Change: Foster a culture of accountability and collaboration, ensuring employees are engaged, respected, and motivated.
• Build Engagement: Create open communication channels, encourage employee voice, and strengthen pride in individual and team contributions.
• Drive Accountability: Implement meaningful performance metrics and instill ownership at every level to achieve sustained excellence.
• Advance Continuous Improvement: Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize processes.
• Align with Enterprise Goals: Collaborate with ERMCO leadership and peers across facilities, influencing without authority to drive alignment and consistency.
• Develop and Grow Talent: Inspire and mentor employees, build strong teams, and prepare the next generation of leaders.
• Customer-Centric Mindset: Ensure operational decisions reinforce ERMCO’s role as the customer’s Most Valued Partner (MVP).

Qualifications

What You Will Need

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, engineering, business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Experience: 15+ years in heavy manufacturing, with at least 10 years in senior leadership of manufacturing operations (transformer production a plus).
• Financial Acumen: Strong experience managing budgets, P&L, and capital investments to deliver sustainable growth.
• People-Focused Leadership: Fosters engagement, strengthens retention, and builds high-performing teams. Union experience is highly preferred.
• Strategic Change Agent: Proven success leading cultural transformation and inspiring teams through periods of significant change.
• Operational Acumen: Expertise in manufacturing operations, production planning, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Collaboration and Influence: Ability to work across enterprise teams and drive progress through relationships and influence without authority.
• Process Improvement: Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to drive operational excellence.
• Resilience and Vision: Confidence in leading within challenging environments, with the vision to shape culture and the steadiness to deliver results.