Plant Manager

About the role

Company Overview Stella-Jones is a leading manufacturer of essential infrastructure products focused on serving utilities and railroads, as well as supplying big box home improvement stores across North America. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada and publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Stella-Jones operates a vast network of facilities that employs more than 3,000 employees across the United States and Canada. Built on strong foundations with a coast-to-coast reach, we offer real opportunities for career success and community impact.

About Our Goshen, Virginia Plant Our 35-acre manufacturing site in Goshen specializes in the production of high-quality railway ties. The local team is made up of 50 dedicated manufacturing professionals across a variety of positions. To learn more about Goshen’s railway tie products (including a 1-minute video overview), visit our product page: https://www.stella-jones.com/en/products/railway-ties

Responsibilities

• Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
  • Drives a positive safety culture by setting a strong example and continually improving the effectiveness of safety training and programs.
  • Ensures compliance with company, government, and customer policies, procedures, and regulations, including environmental controls and hazardous waste requirements.
  • Ensures employees receive and complete required safety, environmental, and operational training and comply with all applicable requirements.
• Production Operations & Performance
  • Manages daily plant operations to ensure production schedules and requirements are achieved safely, on time, and within quality standards.
  • Establishes production and quality control standards and obtains data regarding types, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates of products ordered.
  • Ensures all established cost, quality, safety, and delivery commitments are met.
  • Coordinates manufacturing activities with internal functions and suppliers to optimize the utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials.
  • Reviews production and operating reports and directs the resolution of operational, manufacturing, and maintenance issues to minimize costs and prevent delays.
  • Assures maintenance programs are executed and production interruptions are minimized through effective preventive maintenance follow-up.
  • Recommends system improvements and plans to enhance productivity and operational performance.
• Financial Management & Business Planning
  • Develops and maintains manufacturing operations business plans, including labor requirements, cycle times, and production costs.
  • Participates in the annual budgeting process and is responsible for operating and capital budget development and attainment.
  • Establishes budget and cost controls and reviews production costs to support profitable operations.
  • Modifies production and inventory control programs as needed to maintain and improve financial performance.
  • Directs the preparation of accounting records.
• Leadership, Staffing & Workforce Development
  • Maintains the operation with a qualified, competent workforce aligned to business needs.
  • Provides direct supervision of exempt and non-exempt staff, including performance evaluations, coaching, improvement plans, and disciplinary action when necessary.
  • Approves paid time off (PTO), assigns or delegates work, and provides on-the-job training and guidance.
  • Interviews candidates and supports hiring to build and retain a strong plant team.
• Continuous Improvement & Industry Engagement
  • Visits related company facilities to maintain current knowledge of industry methods and cost performance.
  • Attends meetings, trade shows, seminars, and other professional events to stay current on manufacturing best practices.
  • Identifies and implements operational improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ten or more years of work experience in the manufacturing industry required
• Five or more years of manufacturing plant leadership experience (ideally in roles such as Plant Manager, Production Manager, etc) required; Seven or more years preferred
• Experience in wood products manufacturing or a similar industrial manufacturing environment preferred
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Working knowledge and