About this role

Overview

Who We Are:

Lippert is a leading, global manufacturer and supplier of highly engineered products and customized solutions, dedicated to shaping, growing and bettering the RV, marine, automotive, commercial vehicle and building products industries. We combine our strategic manufacturing capabilities with the power of our winning team culture to deliver unrivaled customer service, award-winning innovation and premium products to all of our customers.

Why We are Different:

At Lippert, Everyone Matters. This is not just a tagline or empty promise; it is who we are. We have intentionally created a culture that values and celebrates our team members’ unique and varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to give our team members a deeper sense of purpose at work, and we continue to build a better work environment by aligning our cultural and business strategies with the needs of our team members.

What You will Get:

- A unique, inclusive and supportive company culture.

- Comprehensive benefit offerings including medical, dental, vision, 401k with employer match, vacation, and more!

- Fair and competitive compensation.

- Career development and mentoring and opportunities to grow.

- Holiday, personal and vacation days.

Summary/Objective:

The Plant Manager (PM) is responsible for managing and leading the Chassis Welding Operations department group leaders, team leaders, and team members for assigned areas / shifts to ensure safety, quality, productivity, positive work environment, customer requirements, cost performance and continuous improvement needs. Providing hands-on manufacturing leadership with a strong engineering mindset, proven problem-solving abilities, and the creativity to develop innovative solutions to operational challenges. Being able to balance strategic thinking with shop floor execution and building high-performing teams while continuously improving manufacturing processes, equipment utilization, and operational efficiency

Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

- Lead all aspects of plant operations including safety, quality, production, maintenance, engineering support, and employee development.

- Develop and execute plans to improve throughput, efficiency, quality, and profitability.

- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

- Identify process bottlenecks and implement creative, practical solutions to improve operational performance.

- Drive lean manufacturing initiatives and waste reduction activities.

- Partner with production, maintenance, quality, and logistics teams to achieve operational goals.

- Monitor key performance indicators and implement corrective actions when necessary.

- Oversee staffing, workforce development, and succession planning.

- Ensure compliance with all environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.

- Support capital investment projects, automation initiatives, and process improvements.

- Maintain strong communication with leadership, customers, suppliers, and team members.

- Review and track Manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPI) including leading problem solving for negative trends or goals not met.

Working Conditions:

- Primarily working indoors, office environment.

- May work on the floor/outside, could be exposed to elements (heat, snow, etc.)

- May sit or stand for several hours at a time.

- Prolonged exposure to computer screens.

- Repetitive use of hands to operate computers, machines, printers, and copiers.

Qualifications:

- 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience with progressive responsibility.

- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office and Navision.

- Experience managing welding, fabrication, chassis, heavy equipment, trailer, truck, automotive, or similar metal-manufacturing operations.

- Demonstrated success leading large production teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

- Strong understanding of welding processes, fabrication techniques, production flow, and equipment utilization.

- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing challenges and implement effective solutions.

- Strong financial and operational acumen with experience managing budgets and performance metrics.

- Excellent leadership, communication, and team-building skills.

- Strong engineering aptitude and technical problem-solving ability

Essential Functions:

- Coordinate and maintain standardization of process/methods.

- Develops, leads, monitors, and participates in a Manufacturing continuous improvement system.

- Implement, monitor, and maintain a clean, organized department.

- Assists Production Manager in developing, planning, and maintaining the budget including making adjustments to achieve targets.

- Participates in management discussions and planning sessions to help formulate cost reduction, product improvement, and problem-solving activities.

- Develops and maintains positive team member relations centered on mutual trust, dignity, respect, fairness, consistency, two-way communication, teamwork, and harmony.

- Provides direction and motivation to team members emphasizing quality, efficiency, productivity, cost reduction, safety and health, and morale.

- Ensures further development of group leaders, team leaders, and team members through performance evaluation, development of training plans, feedback, coaching, corrective action, and cascade training. Update team member training matrix and schedule any needed training.

Competencies:

- Communication Proficiency / Coaching

- Organizational Skills

- Staffing

- Initiative

- Thoroughness

- Time Management

- Management Proficiency

- Financial Planning and Strategy

- Process Improvement

- Decision Making

- Strategic Planning

- Quality Management / Control

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position has the following positions reporting to it:

Team Leaders

Production Supervisor

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The Team Member may have to lift and/or move items over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This position requires Personal Protective Equipment. Protective Equipment supplied by the company includes Coating suit, Coating Boots, Spray Socks, Respirator, Work Gloves, Safety Glasses and Ear Plugs. Employees may be required to provide additional Protective Equipment (Safety Shoes, etc.).

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time salary position, and hours of work and days are decided by production and your reporting General Manager

Travel:

Travel will be minimal and would be primarily local during the business day.

Preferred Education and Experience :

- Fabrication Manufacturing / industry experience a minimum of + years

- Management / Leadership experience at least 3+ years required.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance:

Must be able to pass E Verify.

AAP/EEO Statement:

Lippert provides equal employment opportunity to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, citizen status, veteran status, military service, marital status or any other legally protected category as established by federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, job assignment, compensation, training, promotion, discipline, transfer, leave-of-absence, access to benefits, layoff, recall, termination and other personnel matters. All employment and personnel-related decisions are based solely upon legitimate, job-related factors, such as skill, ability, past performance, and length of service with Lippert.

Lippert’s strong commitment to equal employment opportunity requires a commitment by each individual team member. Compliance with the letter and spirit of this policy is required of all team members. Violations of this policy should be immediately reported to your leader or to any member of leadership. Team members who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the Team Member for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Pay Group : AAP/EEO Statement

Lippert provides equal employment opportunity to all team members and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, citizen status, protected veteran status, military service, marital status or any other legally protected category as established by federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, job assignment, compensation, training, promotion, discipline, transfer, leave-of-absence, access to benefits, layoff, recall, termination and other personnel matters. All employment and personnel-related decisions are based solely upon legitimate, job-related factors, such as skill, ability, past performance, and length of service with Lippert.

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