Plant Manager

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

The Plant (or Operations) Manager is responsible for overseeing all plant operations, driving performance across production, materials management, warehouse, shipping/receiving, and process development. This role owns KPI analysis across People, Processes, and Equipment, preparing and presenting performance reports to the CEO and corporate leadership while identifying strategic improvement opportunities.

The position ensures operational alignment from raw material coordination through production planning, warehouse flow, and finished goods staging. It oversees cycle counts, procurement coordination, material flow, and shipping/receiving accuracy to maintain operational continuity and inventory control.

This role also leads product development and commercialization processes (including PDFs and fiber trials), maintains technical documentation such as specs and recipes, and ensures controlled change management.

A key responsibility includes driving root cause analysis for customer and internal CARs, approving corrective actions and training updates, and ensuring plant-wide compliance with safety, housekeeping, and 5S standards.

Additionally, the Plant Manager oversees leadership development across the organization, including Production Managers, Assistant Production Managers, Fabrication, and Materials Management roles, ensuring succession planning and operational strength. The role serves as the primary cross-functional liaison to ensure alignment across all departments and supports incentive program tracking and performance accountability.

Overall, this position is accountable for total plant performance, leadership development, operational discipline, safety, quality, and sustainable continuous improvement.

• Analyze and monitor all KPI’s across the board, identify opportunities for improvement in the area of People, Processes, and Equipment. Provide support in the creation of KPIs if needed. Prepares and presents weekly KPI reports to the CEO and corporate leadership team. (15%)
• Maintain and create spec sheets, recipes, and documentation of set ups as it relates to current production and new item creation. (To be transitioned to approval process for data changes). (5%)
• Oversee and participate, if needed, in production planning and scheduling as well as provide feedback to optimize scheduling to positively impact productivity, considering availability of raw materials. (3%)
• Coordinate availability of raw materials with procurement team. Support, conduct and plan all routine cycle counts and coordinate with the customer service and procurement teams in case of any need. (5%)
• Oversee, coordinate and manage shipping, receiving, and warehouse operations, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Coordinates and plans material flow and staging – warehouse organization (Trailer needs, finish goods flow, forklift inspections, etc.) (5%)
• Oversee all aspects of PDF process from concept to commercialization. This includes PDFs and new fiber trials. (5%)
• Oversee and participate, if needed, in root cause analysis of all CARs including both customer driven and internal. Analyze, review and approve all action items for improvement including training docs. (11%)
• Oversee all employee development efforts in the plant. Monitor that regular employee performance evaluations are conducted, as well as coaching sessions, disciplinary actions and implement improvement plans when necessary. (10%)
• Plan, coordinate and monitor all activities under the PM’s responsibility including training and development of APM to maximize operational effectiveness. Oversee development of PM, Fabrication manager and materials management roles. (20%).
• Responsible for collecting, generating, and monitoring data to support the administration of the bonus incentive program, ensuring accuracy and timely reporting. (1%)
• Ensure strict compliance with housekeeping standards, safety and 5S practices. (5%)
• Serve as a liaison between all departments as needed ensuring effective communication and teamwork across all depts. (5%)
• Manage time spent on the floor to be effective and focused (10%)

5+ of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, overseeing multiple departments (Production, Materials, Warehouse, Quality, etc.).

Proven experience managing full plant operations with…