Plant Operations Manager – Industrial Heavy-Equipment Manufacturing
Location: near Springfield, IL
Salary: $130,000 – $150,000 + Bonus + Benefits
Benefits: Health Insurance, Dental, Vision, Disability, 401k w/ Match, PTO, Holidays
Job Type: Full-Time | On-site
Typical Hours: Monday–Friday, 40-45 hours/week
Travel: Quarterly domestic and international (primarily Canada) travel
Sponsorship is not available
Relocation assistance is available

Plant Operations Manager – Industrial Heavy-Equipment Manufacturing Description

Our client in industrial equipment manufacturing/fabrication is seeking a Plant Operations Manager to lead the launch of their new fabrication/manufacturing facility near Springfield, IL. In this role, you will oversee facility start-up activities and manage daily operations. You’ll hit the ground running with the goal of building a team from the ground up, backed by support from corporate. You’ll drive efficiency, safety, and quality across operations while working cross-functionally to align site performance with broader business goals. This is a hands-on leadership role within a dynamic, industrial custom-engineered production environment offering the opportunity to put your own stamp on the facilities’ operations for years to come.

Plant Operations Manager – Industrial Heavy-Equipment Manufacturing Responsibilities

•    Drive the startup and scale-up of a new production facility
•    Oversee day-to-day plant activities to meet targets for output, safety, and product quality
•    Administer operational budgets, production timelines, and allocation of resources
•    Hire, train, and lead a multidisciplinary operations team
•    Foster an environment focused on safety, ownership, and ongoing improvement
•    Manage equipment upkeep, capital equipment initiatives, and efficiency improvements
•    Improve workflows through structured processes and systems
•    Ensure site compliance with regulatory and quality standards
•    Coordinate cross-functionally to support strategic initiatives
•    Travel to other locations and supplier sites as needed

Plant Operations Manager – Industrial Heavy-Equipment Manufacturing Qualifications

•    Bachelor’s degree required
•    5+ years of industrial custom-engineered fabrication/manufacturing required
•    5+ years of leadership in production operations experience required
•    Experience starting up or scaling production operations required
•    Experience with regulated quality management standards (ISO 9001, AS9100, etc.) required
•    Valid passport or ability to obtain one upon hire required