Employment Type: Full-Time, Salary

Work Environment: In-Person, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm

Job Summary:

As the Plant Manager of our Towanda door manufacturing facility, your primary objective is to ensure the safe, efficient, and dynamic operation of the plant. You will lead by example, embodying our company's core values of safety, respect, and pursuit of excellence. Your role is pivotal in fostering a work environment where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to the continuous improvement and growth of the plant. By championing safety protocols, fostering a culture of mutual respect, and driving excellence through adaptive change management, you will steer the plant towards achieving operational excellence while prioritizing the well-being of our employees. 

Reports to Director of Operations. Supervise Senior Staff and Staff members, Managers, Group Leaders, and various other Woodgrain personnel. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

Safety Leadership

• Promote and enforce strict adherence to safety protocols, regulations, and best practices. 
• Conduct regular safety inspections and audits to identify hazards and implement corrective actions. 
• Foster a safety-first culture by encouraging open communication, safety training, and recognition of safe behaviors. 

Operational Efficiency

• Oversee all aspects of plant operations to ensure optimal efficiency, productivity, and quality standards. 
• Develop and implement strategies to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance overall operational performance. 
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence. 

Dynamic Work Environment

• Cultivate a positive and inclusive work culture that values diversity, teamwork, and innovation. 
• Provide leadership and mentorship to supervisors and team members, fostering their professional growth and development. 
• Promote cross-functional collaboration and effective communication channels to facilitate a dynamic and agile work environment. 

Change Management and Innovation

• Embrace and drive organizational change initiatives to adapt to evolving market demands and technological advancements. 
• Encourage creativity, experimentation, and a willingness to challenge the status quo to foster a culture of innovation.   
• Lead by example in embracing change, demonstrating flexibility, resilience, and a proactive approach to addressing challenges. 

Performance Management

• Set clear performance goals and expectations for plant operations and individual team members. 
• Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, and recognize and reward achievements.   
• Implement strategies to address performance gaps and support continuous learning and development opportunities for employees. 

Requirements:

Leadership Competencies

Driving for Results

• The Plant Manager must have a strong focus on achieving operational efficiency, productivity, and quality standards. This competency involves setting clear goals, monitoring progress, and driving initiatives to achieve desired outcomes. 

Inspiring and Motivating Others

• Cultivating a positive work environment and motivating team members to contribute their best efforts is essential for success. The Plant Manager should inspire confidence, enthusiasm, and commitment among employees to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. 

Building and Maintaining Relationships

• Effective leadership in this role requires building strong relationships with team members, supervisors, stakeholders, and external partners. The Plant Manager must communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and collaborate across departments to ensure smooth operations and alignment with organizational goals. 

Developing Others

• As a leader, the Plant Manager plays a crucial role in developing the skills, capabilities, and potential of their team members. Providing mentorship, coaching, and opportunities for growth and development is essential for building a high-performing workforce and succession planning. 

Change Management

• Embracing and driving organizational change initiatives is essential for adapting to market dynamics, technological advancements, and evolving business needs. The Plant Manager should demonstrate agility, resilience, and effective change management skills to lead the plant through periods of transition and innovation. 

Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking

• Strong problem-solving skills are vital for addressing operational challenges, optimizing processes, and driving continuous improvement. The Plant Manager should possess analytical thinking abilities to identify root causes, analyze data, and implement effective solutions to enhance plant performance. 

Strategic Perspective

• Having a strategic perspective involves understanding the broader business context, industry trends, and competitive landscape. The Plant Manager should align plant operations with organizational strategies, anticipate future needs, and proactively identify opportunities for growth and improvement. 

Resilience

• Resilience is crucial for navigating uncertainties, overcoming setbacks, and maintaining focus and composure in challenging situations. The Plant Manager should demonstrate resilience to persevere through obstacles, inspire confidence in the team, and drive positive outcomes amidst adversity. 

Additional Skills:

Minimum Education Required

• BS or BA degree in Business, Manufacturing, or related with an emphasis in management or equivalent in combination with education and job-related experience. 

Minimum Experience/Training Required

• Min. 5 years exp. In manufacturing and/or door/millwork industry. 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Attention to detail and specific knowledge with the flexibility or skill to move among different jobs without loss of speed or self-control. 
• Good verbal communication and interpersonal skills presenting a positive representation of the company to inside and outside contacts. 
• Strong leadership, coaching, and motivational skills. 
• Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.   
• Advise others to determine needs and/or problems and then develop solutions. 
• Able to manage multiple areas at once, including leadership skills, motivational skills, etc. 
• Able to read and understand technical data/information; read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations. 
• Able to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. 
• Able to effectively present information to small and large groups; able to respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. 
• Able to put together large amounts of information and forecast results accurately. 
• PC-Windows software (Excel, Access, Word, Powerpoint), ERP software and standard office equipment. 

Physical Demands:
Occasional sitting.  Frequent walking and standing. Frequent operation of office equipment - keyboard, telephone, etc.  Frequent use of hearing. Frequent use of repetitive motions with hands and fingers. Occasional lifting required (up to 100 lbs.).  Visual requirements necessary are color, near, mid-range, and far vision. 

Working Environment: Office/manufacturing facility (climate-controlled office, dirt/dust/temperature fluctuation when in manufacturing environment). Moderate noise level in manufacturing facility. 

Travel:

This position does not require travel to other Woodgrain locations.