Plant Manager

About the company

Founded in 1967, ImageFIRST® is the largest and only national linen rental and laundry service specializing in the healthcare market. Acquired by private equity firm Calera Capital in 2018, ImageFIRST serves medical facilities nationwide, providing linen, patient gowns, scrubs, and more while managing clients’ linen inventory for cost management. As leaders in infection prevention, they own and operate the most HLAC-accredited facilities in the industry, with a 97% customer retention rate. ImageFIRST is dedicated to improving patient satisfaction and staff happiness through white-glove service.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of supervisors, maintenance staff, and operational employees, ensuring a culture of accountability, consistent execution, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee daily plant operations, including production scheduling, labor forecasting, staffing, quality assurance, and equipment maintenance, ensuring smooth, efficient, and cost-effective workflows.
• Ensure adherence to all regulations, including safety (employee and workplace), environmental, quality, and legal standards, maintaining a safe and compliant working environment.
• Drive process enhancements using continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma) to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance operational efficiency and productivity.
• Manage plant budgets, monitor expenditures, and identify opportunities for cost reduction while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
• Drive inventory management to ensure consistent materials supply and stocks, partnering with Procurement, Service, and Logistics teams as needed.
• Prepare regular reports and updates for senior management on key performance metrics, including production goals, plant performance, and operational challenges.
• Manage talent recruitment and development efforts to drive high employee engagement, skills building, performance delivery, and talent succession planning.
• Create and manage third-party contractor relationships to ensure seamless delivery of daily plant operations.
• Partner with Service teams to ensure customers receive quality products in a timely manner.
• Travel to other company locations or supplier sites as needed (10-15% travel may be required).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or business administration.
• 5–7 years of extensive work experience in a leadership role within a manufacturing environment, with a proven track record in plant management.
• Strong end-to-end understanding of manufacturing management, including safety, product delivery and quality, continuous improvement, regulations, maintenance, and compliance.
• Operations management expertise (e.g., Lean Manufacturing/Six Sigma certifications).
• Robust problem-solving, strategic thinking, and root-cause analysis skills for people management, process deviations, and complex challenges.
• Financial management experience, including P&L, payroll, budgeting, and cost control at the plant level.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Word, Adobe, and ERP systems.
• Initiative-driven, action-oriented individual with strong interpersonal, analytical, organizational, time management, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA preferred.
• Prior military experience is highly valued.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
• Familiarity with Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001/ISO 9001) and guidelines, including OSHA, DOT, and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification.
• Experience with manufacturing software tools and reporting systems.
• Experience in laundry processing, specifically in line balancing, preventative maintenance, and quality controls for linen.

Core Competencies

• Be Respectful: Value all we come in contact with.
• Be Remarkable: Create a positive moment with every interaction.
• Be Safe: Keep ourselves and those around us safe.
• Be Honest: Be guided by truthfulness in all we do.

Benefits

• Weekly pay.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Pet, legal, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• 401k with company match.
• Paid time off package.
• Paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Referral program.
• Great company culture and collaborative team environment.