Plant Manager

Bradley Professional is currently seeking a Plant Manager for their client located in Hickory, NC.

The Plant/Operations Manager is responsible for overall plant performance, overseeing production, materials management, warehouse, shipping/receiving, process development, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

This position leads plant operations from raw material planning through finished goods, monitors KPIs, develops plant leadership, and drives improvements across People, Processes, and Equipment. The Plant Manager will also prepare and present performance results to the CEO and corporate leadership team.

• Lead day-to-day plant operations across Production, Materials, Warehouse, Shipping/Receiving, and related functions.
• Monitor and analyze plant KPIs, identify performance gaps, and implement improvement initiatives.
• Prepare and present weekly operational performance reports to executive leadership.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, raw material availability, inventory control, cycle counts, and material flow.
• Ensure efficient and accurate warehouse, shipping, receiving, and finished goods operations.
• Lead new product/process development and commercialization, including trials, specifications, recipes, and technical documentation.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for customer and internal issues.
• Ensure compliance with safety, housekeeping, quality, and 5S standards.
• Coach and develop Production Managers, Assistant Production Managers, Fabrication, Materials Management, and other plant leaders.
• Manage employee performance, coaching, development, accountability, and succession planning.
• Promote strong communication and collaboration across all departments.
• Maintain an effective balance between production floor presence and administrative responsibilities.

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience overseeing multiple operational functions such as Production, Materials, Warehouse, and Quality.
• Proven success managing plant KPIs, productivity, labor efficiency, cost control, and workforce development.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, scheduling, inventory management, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Strong leadership, coaching, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to analyze operational data and present results to executive leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP/MRP systems.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required; significant manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.

Must be comfortable working in an active manufacturing environment, including regular production floor presence, walking, bending, climbing stairs, occasional lifting up to 40 pounds, and wearing required PPE.