Manufacturing Plant Manager

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and continuous improvement of the Cerex manufacturing operation. This position provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for all plant functions, including Safety, Production, Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, Shipping, Regulatory Compliance, and Inventory Control.

The Plant Manager is accountable for achieving business objectives related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, capital projects and supporting new product development. This role develops and executes operational strategies that support customer satisfaction, business growth, profitability, and long-term organizational success.

Success in this position requires strong operational leadership, effective people development, sound business judgment, and a commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Reports To: President

Direct Reports: 7

Indirect Reports: 45

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success managing operations in a 24-hour manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of safety programs, quality systems, production planning, maintenance systems, and inventory control.
• Proven experience developing employees and managing cross-functional teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred:

• Experience in nonwovens, textiles, paper, polymers, or related manufacturing industries.
• Minimum three (3) years of plant-level leadership responsibility.
• Experience with leading regulatory compliance and OSHA PSM initiatives.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
• Experience leading capital investment projects and facility expansions.
• Experience with ISO-based quality systems and customer audit requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS

Results-Driven:

• Consistently improves plant performance relating to Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity objectives.
• Establishes clear expectations, goals, and accountability measures.
• Uses data and operational metrics to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase profitability.

Personnel Development:

• Builds a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Develops supervisors and future leaders through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Supports workforce planning, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.
• Promotes employee involvement and ownership of plant performance.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Establishes productive working relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Partners effectively with Sales, Finance, IT, and Human Resources teams.
• Communicates business goals, priorities, and performance expectations clearly and consistently.
• Represents Operations professionally with customers, suppliers, auditors, and community stakeholders.

Leadership:

• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Leads by example and fosters a culture of respect, accountability, and teamwork.
• Maintains visibility throughout the plant and actively engages employees.
• Champions change initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership:

• Provide overall direction and leadership for all manufacturing operations.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Establish annual operating objectives and performance targets aligned with company goals.
• Drive achievement of key performance indicators related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, and cost.
• Maintain effective production planning and execution to meet customer requirements.
• Support business growth by ensuring adequate staffing, equipment capacity, and operational capability.
• Participate in strategic planning and long-range business planning activities.

Safety and Compliance:

• Promote a world-class safety culture throughout the facility.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead investigations and corrective actions related to significant safety incidents.
• Maintain employee awareness and accountability for safe work practices.

Production and Quality:

• Ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet customer specifications and quality requirements.
• Lead Quality and Technical teams to improve process capability and product consistency.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to operational performance issues.
• Support customer audits and regulatory inspections as required.

Maintenance and Asset Reliability:

• Ensure effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs are established and executed.
• Improve equipment reliability, uptime, and operating efficiency.
• Prioritize maintenance resources to support safe and efficient operation of plant assets.
• Develop long-term plans for equipment replacement and infrastructure improvements.

Financial Management:

• Develop and manage departmental budgets and operating expenses.
• Identify and implement cost reduction initiatives without compromising safety, quality, or customer service.
• Monitor labor utilization, productivity, waste, and overall operational costs.
• Support capital expenditure planning and return-on-investment analysis.

Continuous Improvement:

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.
• Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), labor productivity, yields, and process efficiency.
• Develop systems to monitor operational performance and drive accountability.
• Foster a culture that encourages problem-solving, innovation, and continuous learning.

Customer Focus:

• Support customer satisfaction through reliable delivery, consistent product quality, and responsive service.
• Participate in key customer visits, audits, and technical discussions as needed.
• Collaborate with Sales and Customer Service teams to support business growth and customer retention.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Frequently walks throughout a manufacturing facility.
• Regularly climbs stairs and accesses elevated work platforms.
• Occasionally lifts, pushes, or pulls materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Works in environments with varying temperatures, noise levels, and manufacturing hazards.
• Must be available to address critical operational issues outside normal business hours when required.
• Ability to travel occasionally for training, customer visits, supplier meetings, or company events.

At CEREX Advanced Fabrics, you'll join a team committed to safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement while enjoying opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Apply today and take the next step in your management career with an industry leader in innovation and excellence.

CEREX Advanced Fabrics is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status.