Project Manager

Plant Manager

Thompson Pipe Group is a privately held family business of engineers, contractors, and manufacturers based in Rialto, California. Each generation of products is better than the previous.

Thompson Pipe Group is now the largest and most diverse drainage, sanitary, pressure and trench-less pipe provider, with manufacturing locations across the country and serving not just the US but all of North America.

Thompson Pipe group is looking for a driven Plant Manager who will use their experience to direct and manage all plant operations with overall responsibilities for production, maintenance, quality, and other production-related activities.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the central point of contact between customers and all internal departments.
• Establish clear expectations across all stakeholders—internal and external—and hold all parties accountable.
• Maintain full knowledge of contract documents.
• Develop and manage clear deliverables and milestone schedules:
• Contract negotiations and T&Cs review with clients
• Engineering submittals (front-end submittals, lay schedules, shop drawings)
• Submittal review and approvals
• Production release and execution
• QA/QC processes and inspections (as required)
• Delivery start through final completion
• Lead project planning, scheduling, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Manage the submittal process in coordination with engineering; issue RFIs as required.
• Identify and communicate critical path items impacting production and delivery.
• Authorize release to manufacturing upon submittal approval and executed contracts.
• Coordinate QA/QC requirements, testing, and inspections.
• Provide consistent updates on manufacturing progress and delivery schedules.
• Maintain consistent communication cadence (minimum weekly with clients).
• Deliver clear, proactive updates, including risks and schedule impacts.
• Communicate difficult or sensitive issues effectively, maintaining a professional and controlled narrative without exposing internal challenges.
• Drive a best-in-class customer experience that leads to repeat business.
• Prepare and manage Schedule of Values (SOV)/Order Confirmations aligned with estimates and contract terms.
• Manage change orders, including detailed cost and schedule impact analysis.
• Track project cost vs. budget, identifying and escalating major variances.
• Ensure timely invoicing and support Accounts Receivable and collections.
• Lead structured project closeout, including:
• Budget vs. actual cost analysis
• Lessons learned documentation
• Customer feedback and survey completion
• Support cross-functional value creation:
• With Marketing: job site photos for case studies
• Engineering: support technical papers for industry conference

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field (preferred).
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is a plus, but not required.
• 5+ years of experience in project management within manufacturing, construction, or infrastructure.
• Proficient in using MS Office, MS Project, Visio, or equivalent tools.
• Strong understanding of contracts, submittals, RFIs, and QA/QC processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with strong attention to detail and accountability.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to manage challenging client conversations.
• Experience with cost tracking, scheduling, and change order management.
• Highly organized, proactive, and results-driven.
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.

What We Offer:

• Top-tier Medical, Vision and Dental, Life Benefits
• Life & Supplement Life
• Company Matched 401K retirement plan
• Paid Holidays
• Fun Events
• Employee Discounts
• Career Opportunity!