Steel Plant Manager​/Start up and Operations

A growing steel fabrication and reinforcing operation is seeking a hands‑on Plant Manager to lead the startup and ongoing operation of a new production facility in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

This role will be responsible for bringing a new facility online, including equipment installation, commissioning, plant layout, workflow development, staffing, and process implementation. Once operational, this individual will assume full responsibility for daily production, scheduling, and overall plant performance. This position will also support future facility expansion projects as the company continues to grow.

• Oversee delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of fabrication and material handling equipment
• Coordinate vendor setup, calibration, validation, and startup of new machinery
• Develop plant layout including material flow, staging areas, storage, and safety zones
• Implement efficient production workflows for structural steel and reinforcing steel operations
• Coordinate utilities integration including power distribution, compressed air, ventilation, and dust collection systems
• Establish preventative maintenance systems and equipment reliability programs
• Develop standard operating procedures, production documentation, and safety processes
• Hire, train, and develop key production personnel and supervisors
• Manage daily steel fabrication and reinforcing operations
• Develop and maintain production schedules and capacity planning systems
  
  Monitor KPIs including throughput, scrap rates, labor efficiency, equipment uptime, safety, and on‑time delivery
• Oversee raw material inventory including structural steel, rebar, plate, and fabricated components
• Implement lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure compliance with applicable welding and structural fabrication standards
• Coordinate closely with estimating and project management to align production output with project demand
• Prepare the facility for future expansion and additional startup initiatives

• 5+ years of experience in steel, metal fabrication, or heavy industrial manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience installing and commissioning production equipment
• Experience developing plant layouts and production workflows
• Production scheduling and capacity planning experience
• Leadership experience supervising fabrication or manufacturing teams
• Strong understanding of structural steel, reinforcing steel, or heavy metal processing
• Hands‑on mechanical aptitude with strong shop‑floor credibility

• Experience in structural steel fabrication
• Experience with rebar processing and bending systems
• Experience with CNC plasma, beam line, or plate processing equipment
• Experience with press brake operations
• Knowledge of welding processes such as GMAW, FCAW, and SMAW
• Experience managing heavy material handling systems including overhead cranes and forklifts
• Experience leading multi‑shift production environments

The ideal candidate is technically strong, comfortable around heavy equipment, experienced in equipment startup and process implementation, and capable of transitioning from facility launch into structured production management. This role requires a leader who is willing to be present on the shop floor and directly engaged in building and improving operations.