Plant Operations Director

About the role

The Plant Operations Director is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for Benshaw's manufacturing facilities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Listowel, Ontario. Reporting directly to the President of Benshaw Inc., this role is accountable for driving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement across both facilities while ensuring alignment with the company's long-term growth strategy.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing operations at Benshaw Pittsburgh (USA) and Listowel (Ontario, Canada), ensuring consistent execution of operational strategies and performance objectives.
• Serve as the Plant Manager for the Pittsburgh facility, overseeing day-to-day manufacturing activities and operational performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure production schedules meet customer commitments while maintaining the highest standards for quality, safety, and cost performance.
• Lead complex manufacturing operations including:
• Power electronics assembly
• Motor controls and Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• Soft starters
• Sheet metal fabrication
• Panel building
• Switchgear and Motor Control Center (MCC) assembly
• Drive manufacturing best practices to improve throughput, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate opportunities for vertical integration and strategic operational investments.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and operational excellence initiatives across both facilities.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable process improvements that increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve quality.
• Establish performance metrics and accountability systems to drive continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing operations leadership team, including Production Managers, Plant Supervisors, Quality, Lean/Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Engineering, and Warehouse leadership.
• Foster a culture focused on accountability, collaboration, safety, innovation, and employee engagement.
• Support succession planning and leadership development to strengthen organizational capability.
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Quality, Sales, and Customer Service to ensure seamless execution of customer requirements.
• Lead the Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) process to align demand planning, production capacity, inventory strategy, and business priorities.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to improve supplier performance, inventory optimization, and material availability.
• Drive key operational metrics including:
• Safety performance
• On-time delivery
• Quality and first-pass yield
• Productivity and labor efficiency
• Inventory turns
• Cost reduction
• Customer satisfaction
• Develop and manage operating budgets, capital expenditures, and cost improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and workplace safety requirements in both the United States and Canada.
• Communicate operational performance, strategic initiatives, capital projects, and continuous improvement results to the President of Benshaw Inc. and Amconex executive leadership.
• Participate in strategic planning and support long-term business growth initiatives.
• Lead organizational change management efforts that position Benshaw for continued expansion and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including senior-level plant management responsibilities in a complex industrial manufacturing environment.
• Proven success leading multi-site manufacturing operations and driving transformational change.
• Deep understanding of industrial electrical equipment manufacturing, including:
• Motor controls
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• Soft starters
• Power electronics
• Sheet metal fabrication
• Panel building
• Switchgear
• Motor Control Center (MCC) assemblies
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and data-driven manufacturing management.
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, capital investments, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to travel regularly between Pittsburgh, PA and Listowel, Ontario, and occasionally to other Amconex locations.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or Business Administration (MBA).
• PMP certification.
• Experience within engineered-to-order, configure-to-order, or industrial power equipment manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading operations within a global manufacturing organization.