Plant Superintendent

Title: Plant Superintendent
Location: Defiance, OH
Job Type: FTE/Permanent

Position Summary:
The Plant Superintendent is responsible for providing management and leadership to achieve safety, quality, and production goals. The role involves overseeing all aspects of plant operations, including safety, production, maintenance, warehouse management, budget management, productivity improvements, and quality assurance. The Plant Superintendent will lead a team of both hourly and salaried employees, ensuring that operational goals are met efficiently and effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure all departments are maintained in safe and proper conditions, ensuring environmental compliance, safeguarding personnel, and promoting good housekeeping practices.
• Oversee the overall activities of assigned operations to ensure efficient workflow, maintenance of production schedules, acceptable quality levels, and inventory management.
• Utilize plant resources, workforce, and analysis of methods and materials to optimize operating costs through team management concepts and adherence to work rules.
• Manage production scheduling and direct production efforts to ensure efficient processes, economic operating efficiencies, and process capabilities, while maintaining current quality systems. Collaborate closely with QA, QC, and engineering teams to ensure compliance.
• Develop and implement annual budgets, quality programs, and productivity improvement plans.
• Conduct performance reviews of subordinates, and develop and maintain training programs to support business plans and growth objectives.
• Maintain effective communication and coordination with other department managers within the plant.
• Coordinate technical activities with Engineering and other departmental units as necessary.
• Assist with special projects and assignments as specified.
• May serve as acting Plant Manager in their absence.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What You Bring to the Team:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, or Ceramics) or business management, with demonstrated technical proficiency; a minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in a manufacturing environment, including supervisory and management roles.
• Proven leadership and management experience.
• Ability to manage a team of 150+ hourly and deploying resources. Responsible for performance evaluations, pay reviews, hiring, and terminations.
• Proven ability to drive change in a heavy industrial environment.
• Strong technical knowledge.
• Ability to develop highly efficient teams on the shop floor.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to support infrastructure needs.
• Experience in productivity improvement tools such as Lean or Six Sigma.
• Proven ability to achieve positive results in safety performance.
• Basic knowledge of quality management principles.
• Experience with ERP systems, SAP preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and a focus on quality improvement.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to interface with all levels of the organization, both internally and externally.
• Minimal travel requirements (0-10 days per year).
• Work environment typical of a manufacturing facility, with exposure to environmental conditions such as cold, heat, high noise levels, moving mechanical parts, heights, dust, mist, gas fumes, extensive walking or climbing, etc.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds.

Skills and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree (required).