Manufacturing Plant Manager

Harris Brand•Elberfeld, IN

About The Position

The purpose of your role as a Manufacturing Plant Manager The Plant Manager for the new integrated manufacturing plant will lead the build, launch, and scale of end-to-end operations at a state-of-the-art facility designed to expand enterprise-wide manufacturing capacity and drive disciplined, repeatable execution. This new plant represents a critical step in our industrialized construction strategy—introducing advanced prefabrication and modular production methods to deliver consistent, scalable, and high-quality solutions for one of the nation’s top 10 MEP contractors. Initially reporting to the Vice President of Industrialized Construction, this role will have full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, financial performance, and people, with direct ownership of the plant operating budget, P&L performance, and capital investment planning and execution. Day-one operations will focus on plumbing and piping fabrication, with the facility designed to scale and expand into sheet metal manufacturing as capacity, demand, and capital investment plans mature. The Plant Manager will ensure financial discipline, cost transparency, and strong return on invested capital as the facility ramps and scales. The Plant Manager will champion standardized systems, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement to establish operational stability, maximize throughput, and ensure reliability, including readiness for ISO 9001:2015 certification. Success in this role requires a strong manufacturing mindset, deep understanding of quality systems, and the ability to lead teams through change toward sustained operational excellence in a high-growth, innovation-driven environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction, management, or a related field required
8+ years in manufacturing operations experience, including leadership roles with full accountability for safety, quality, Throughput, delivery, cost, and people
5+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing, fabrication, or industrialized production environment
5+ years of experience leading supervisors, plant managers, or shop leadership teams
Demonstrated ability to manage end-to-end manufacturing operations
Experience leading supervisors, plant managers, or shop leadership teams
Strong understanding of production planning, workflow management, and operational performance metrics
Background in transitioning operations from construction-style processes to manufacturing models
Demonstrated experience starting up, scaling, or transforming manufacturing operations, preferably in a greenfield or rapidly evolving environment
Experience in mechanical fabrication, modular construction, or industrialized construction environments
Proven track record implementing standardized production systems, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement initiatives
Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence programs
Experience leading multi-discipline or complex fabrication operations, such as piping, plumbing, sheet metal, mechanical systems, or similar industrial environments
Strong history of cross-functional leadership, partnering effectively with engineering, supply chain, and downstream execution teams
Hands-on experience establishing or operating within formal quality management systems
Familiarity with DfMA/prefab and modular construction workflows
Experience standing up, scaling, or transforming a plant including standardizing production systems and introducing automation

Responsibilities

Plant Startup, Scale-Up, and Operational Leadership Lead the startup, stabilization, and scale-up of a new integrated manufacturing facility, establishing operating rhythms, production readiness, and performance discipline
Own end-to-end plant performance, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, P&L performance, and workforce execution across multiple fabrication disciplines.
Translate enterprise growth objectives into executable production plans that support predictable output and on-time delivery
Manufacturing Strategy & Production System Design Establish capacity models, line layouts, material flow, and scheduling methods to support modular and prefabricated construction solutions
Drive data-based decision-making through defined KPIs, visual management, and performance reporting
Translate enterprise production plans and forecasts into executable schedules
Balance labor, equipment, and materials to meet production commitments
Identify capacity constraints and proactively develop mitigation plans
Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Champion lean manufacturing principles to improve throughput, reduce waste, and increase operational reliability
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, cost reduction, and process stability.
Develop a culture of problem-solving and accountability through structured improvement methodologies
People Leadership: Establish connections with others to build trust, share ideas, and accomplish work
Help others become more effective through strengths development, clear expectations, encouragement, and coaching
Provide growth and development opportunities to the team through training and continuing education
Identify the consequences of actions and hold yourself and others responsible for performance
Listen, share information concisely and with purpose, and be open to hearing opinions
Encourage others through positivity, vision, confidence, challenge, and recognition
Support timely and effective implementation of business-required changes.
Utilize the ADKAR model to lead change within teams/departments supervising
Motivate and support employee engagement by creating a positive and motivating working environment, aligning work according to employee motivation, giving others appropriate latitude to get work done, and making people feel that their contributions are visible and valuable
Develop, coach, advise and mentor team members to: Manage change, inspire confidence, be empowered, hold team members accountable, Support the strategic direction and operational needs of the company while meeting their own internal objectives, build collaborative relationships across the company to assist in managing through the employee life cycle (e.g., plan, attract, retain, develop, measure, and advance employees) And to cultivate and foster the desired Harris culture, values and competencies
Model and be an example for the Harris culture, values and competencies. Emphasize a strong safety culture at all times
Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance Build a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, environmental, and company standards
Establish and maintain robust quality management systems, including readiness for ISO 9001:2015 certification
Ensure consistent product quality through standardized work, inspection processes, and root-cause corrective actions
Cross-Functional Integration & Value Stream Alignment Partner with engineering, supply chain, and operations to align design intent, material availability, and production schedules
Enable seamless handoffs between upstream planning and downstream installation through coordinated workflows and feedback loops
Serve as the primary manufacturing interface for enterprise stakeholders supporting industrialized construction initiatives