Plant Manager

About the Role

MSA Safety is a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to help protect people and assets worldwide. As a Plant Manager at our Jacksonville, NC manufacturing plant, you will lead operations, drive safety, and ensure high-quality production to meet customer expectations.

Responsibilities

• Leadership: Set strategy, improve employee engagement, and align staffing, skills, and development to meet organizational goals. Establish objectives for direct reports, monitor progress, and translate corporate initiatives into plant-specific action plans. Promote the MSA Operating System at all levels.
• Environmental Health and Safety: Drive safe practices, engage associates in proactive safety programs (e.g., Behavior Based Safety), and ensure compliance with OSHA and other regulations.
• Quality: Ensure products meet design requirements, adhere to the MSA Quality Management System, and resolve customer issues promptly.
• Delivery Performance: Establish production processes to meet customer delivery expectations.
• Continuous Improvement & Cost Reduction: Lead improvement initiatives and collaborate with supply chain, engineering, and continuous improvement teams to reduce product costs.
• New Products: Work with NPD teams to introduce new products on schedule and within budget.
• Financial Performance: Develop and manage the annual budget, report on plant performance (e.g., customer service, quality, safety), and use business analytics to drive decisions.
• Capital Equipment: Identify short- and long-term capital equipment needs for the plant.

Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership to translate strategic priorities into operational execution.
• Excellent team-building and interpersonal skills to motivate and align teams.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Business and financial acumen to drive organizational results.
• Ability to organize and prioritize diverse tasks effectively.
• Professional demeanor and ability to drive associate engagement.
• Strong decision-making and delegation skills.
• Proven ability to develop individuals’ skills for current and future roles.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and building stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience (Level I):
  • B.S. degree in a related field or equivalent.
  • 5+ years of production supervision or project management experience.
  • 5+ years of production or related experience.
• Education & Experience (Level II):
  • B.S. degree in a related field or equivalent.
  • 5+ years of production supervision or project management experience.
  • 7+ years of production or related experience.
• Preferred:
  • Master’s degree, advanced certification, or equivalent.
  • Experience managing multiple departments/shifts in supervisory roles.
  • Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, or EHS initiatives.
  • Experience implementing new processes or the MSA Operating System.