Plant Manager - Metals Fabrication

About the role

Lake Air Products is seeking a strategic, hands-on Plant Manager for our Roseville, MN facility. This role offers the opportunity to drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and strong performance across safety, quality, cost, and delivery in an advanced manufacturing organization specializing in metal fabrication, painting, and complex assemblies. The ideal candidate brings an entrepreneurial mindset, strong business acumen, and a passion for developing high-performing teams, with the ability to shape operations and influence the future of the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of manufacturing departments (scheduling, fabrication, assembly, shipping/receiving, etc.) including 5-8 direct reports in a metals fabrication facility.
• Own overall plant accountability for KPIs, including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost (SQDC), the output of critical components, and plant productivity.
• Manage spending against budget and in relation to changes in production volume.
• Seek solutions that strengthen quality, value, service, and effectiveness while respectfully challenging the status quo and managing change.
• Lead tier meetings to ensure consistent messaging for employee expectations and communications.
• Propose and justify CAPEX projects, clearly presenting the benefits and ROI.
• Define continuous improvement projects; establish and maintain timelines to drive improvements.
• Make timely, data-driven decisions that positively impact production, results, and customer satisfaction.
• Communicate effectively cross-functionally with client support teams, engineering, and senior leadership.
• Build and maintain productive employee relationships, mentoring supervisors and partnering with HR to drive employee satisfaction and retention.
• Uphold company values and facilitate a positive company culture to contribute to overall success.
• Consult with engineering to modify jobs for improved production and quality of product.
• Comply with the requirements of the ISO Quality Management System, departmental procedures, and work instructions.

Requirements

• Experience in transition leadership, including fast growth (>15% per year), operational turnarounds, or expansions.
• Ability to provide technical oversight with an understanding of metal products and processes.
• Proven success in contract manufacturing, producing 1000+ SKUs for 10+ customers.
• Ability to pull and analyze data related to budgets, KPIs, and efficiency reporting.
• Strong leadership, influencing, and mentoring skills, with a track record as a cultural change agent.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems within a manufacturing environment; Epicor experience preferred.

This position may require travel between our Roseville, MN and Coon Rapids, MN facilities and may be subject to export control regulations. Unless an exemption applies, candidates must be a U.S. Person* within the meaning of the law or obtain an export control license.

Benefits

• Competitive wage
• Full benefits package
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holiday Pay
• Gym reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement