Plant Manager
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Plant Manager to lead operations for a rapidly growing aerial platform and utility equipment manufacturer. This individual will oversee all aspects of day-to-day manufacturing operations, including production, scheduling, quality, safety, inventory, continuous improvement, and employee leadership.
This is a highly visible leadership role within a lean manufacturing environment requiring both strategic operational thinking and strong floor-level execution. The ideal candidate will have experience managing fabrication and industrial manufacturing operations while driving efficiency, accountability, and operational excellence at all levels.
The Plant Manager will directly oversee approximately 170 employees initially, with responsibility for scaling operations to double production in the direct future.
OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
- Oversee daily manufacturing and fabrication operations for cranes and related material handling equipment
- Manage production scheduling, workflow coordination, and on-time delivery performance
- Monitor labor utilization, throughput, quality, and operational efficiency
- Coordinate fabrication, welding, assembly, machining, painting, and shipping activities
- Ensure proper maintenance and uptime of manufacturing equipment and tooling
- Assist ownership with production forecasting and capacity planning
LEAN MANUFACTURING & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
- Lead lean manufacturing initiatives focused on waste reduction, process flow, and operational efficiency
- Implement and maintain continuous improvement methodologies including 5S, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis, Standard Work, Visual Management, and KPI tracking
- Develop and improve SOPs, production processes, and workflow documentation
- Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to improve throughput and profitability
- Foster a culture of accountability, organization, and continuous improvement
LEADERSHIP & TEAM DEVELOPMENT
- Directly supervise and mentor plant personnel
- Promote a positive, safety-focused, team-oriented culture
- Conduct training and cross-training initiatives
- Hold employees accountable to productivity, quality, and safety expectations
- Participate in hiring and workforce planning as company growth occurs
QUALITY & SAFETY
- Ensure all products meet internal quality standards and customer specifications
- Maintain compliance with OSHA and applicable safety regulations
- Lead workplace safety initiatives and maintain a clean, organized facility
- Assist with inspection, testing, and quality assurance processes
INVENTORY & SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION
- Manage raw material inventory levels and coordinate purchasing needs
- Work closely with vendors and suppliers to maintain material availability
- Monitor production costs and material usage to improve margins
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience
- Strong organizational and notable communication skills
- Experience in fabrication, welding, structural steel, heavy equipment, crane manufacturing, or industrial equipment manufacturing
- Demonstrated lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience
- Strong understanding of production scheduling and shop floor operations
- Ability to read mechanical drawings and manufacturing documentation
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Hands-on leadership style with willingness to work directly alongside production staff when necessary
PREFERRED LEADERSHIP & GROWTH EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrated experience leading through servant leadership principles, with a focus on employee development, accountability, communication, and team engagement
- Proven ability to build trust and foster a positive, high-performance culture within a manufacturing environment
- Experience managing operations during periods of rapid organizational growth and operational scaling
- Ability to successfully implement structure, processes, and KPI accountability in entrepreneurial or fast-growing manufacturing businesses
- Strong change management capabilities with the ability to lead teams through operational improvements and evolving business demands
- Track record of improving productivity, throughput, quality, and operational efficiency while improving employee morale and retention
- Experience developing frontline employees into higher-performing and cross-functional team members
- Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, production staff, customers, vendors, and engineering teams
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
- A servant-minded leader who leads by example and earns respect on the shop floor
- Prefers working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented manufacturing environment
- Process-driven while remaining hands-on and approachable
- Passionate about continuous improvement and team development
- Capable of scaling manufacturing operations without losing culture or accountability
- Experienced in creating structure and stability during growth phases
- Motivated by building efficient systems, strong teams, and long-term operational excellence
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
We offer an excellent benefit package including competitive wage, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k) retirement with company match, ESOP, profit sharing, paid vacation and holidays.
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
I understand this job description is not intended in any way to create and does not create a durational term of employment or an employment contract, express or implied, between me and Elliott Equipment Company. Nor does it limit or restrict Elliott Equipment Company with respect to the creation or termination of relationships with its employees. As an employee-at-will, I understand my employment with Elliott Equipment Company may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, and without notice, by me or Elliott Equipment Company.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I acknowledge that I have received the position description and have reviewed the description set forth above. I further acknowledge that I understand the description of this position and the essential functions that are stated above. I also understand that all the duties of the position are not listed above and that I will perform these duties and other duties as directed by my supervisor and management.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of this position.
