PROGRAM: Essex Industries
POSITION: Plant Manager
REPORTS TO: Chief Operating Officer
SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Flexibility Required.
TRAVEL: Some local and regional travel is required to support business operations and customer relationships.
PAY: $75,000-$85,000 Annually 

JOB SUMMARY: The Plant Manager provides overall leadership for the day-to-day operations and business performance of Essex Industries. This position is responsible for ensuring manufacturing and subcontract work is completed safely, efficiently, on time, and in accordance with quality expectations while effectively managing staff, resources, inventory, equipment, and costs. As the leader of a small manufacturing operation, the Plant Manager also plays an active role in growing the business, including maintaining strong customer relationships, identifying
opportunities for new products and contract work, supporting sales and dealer development, and coordinating basic marketing and promotional activities. The Plant Manager is expected to be a hands-on leader who can move comfortably between the production floor, employees,
customers, and administrative responsibilities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains new staff.
• Oversees the daily workflow and priorities of the plant.
• Provides constructive and timely check-ins and performance evaluations.
• Handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.
• Plans, organizes, delegates, and assigns responsibilities based upon production and business priorities.
• Ensures adequate staffing, training, and cross-training to support safe and efficient operations.
• Develops employees to assume appropriate responsibility for day-to-day production, quality, inventory, safety, and other operational functions.

• Provides day-to-day leadership and oversight of manufacturing, assembly, subcontracting, shipping, and receiving activities.
• Establishes production priorities and ensures customer orders and contracts are completed safely, efficiently, accurately, and on schedule.
• Monitors production performance, workflow, labor utilization, quality, and costs and makes adjustments when needed.
• Identifies opportunities to improve processes, productivity, workflow, and use of resources.
• Maintains effective inventory control processes and oversees monthly and annual inventory activities.
• Oversees development and maintenance of appropriate standard operating procedures and production processes.
• Supports the development and implementation of new products, contracts, and production processes, including appropriate time studies and costing information.
• Ensures effective quality-control processes are established and maintained.
• Maintains a safe and organized working environment throughout the plant.
• Ensures compliance with applicable agency requirements and external safety and regulatory standards, including OSHA and DOT requirements as applicable.
• Ensures appropriate machine safety, lockout/tagout, forklift, hearing conservation, Safety Data Sheet, and other required safety practices are maintained.
• Coordinates routine safety inspections and ensures identified concerns are addressed.
• Oversees preventive maintenance and necessary repairs for equipment, machinery, building, and grounds.
• Ensures employees receive appropriate training to safely perform assigned work.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with existing customers, dealers, vendors, and business partners.
• Identifies and pursues reasonable opportunities for new customers, dealer relationships, subcontract work, and product sales.
• Works with agency leadership to evaluate potential new products, contracts, and business opportunities.
• Monitors customer feedback and addresses operational or quality concerns that may affect customer satisfaction or future sales.
• Maintains an understanding of Essex Industries products, customers, competitors, and relevant market trends.
• Participates in development of pricing strategies based upon production costs, market conditions, and business goals
• Coordinates with appropriate agency resources to keep product information, pricing, website content, and promotional materials current.
• Participates in selected trade shows, vendor events, community events, or sales opportunities when they offer meaningful business-development value.
• Tracks basic sales and business-development measures to help determine which products, customers, and sales efforts are producing results.
• Manages plant operations with attention to productivity, labor, material costs, waste, pricing, and overall financial performance.
• Participates in budget development and monitors performance against established goals.
• Works with agency leadership to identify strategies to improve the financial sustainability of Essex Industries.
• Actively participates in departmental and agency-based quality assurance and improvement processes and requirements.
• Identifies service and operational gaps, develops corrective action plans, and ensures successful implementation.
• Ensures the team understands and supports the agency strategic plan, mission, and credo.
• Understands and operates in a trauma-informed manner.
• Performs other duties and activities assigned by the Chief Operating Officer.

• Strong leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to develop and delegate to others.
• Practical understanding of manufacturing, production, workflow, and quality control.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining focus on the most important operational and business needs.
• Basic business acumen, including an understanding of costs, pricing, productivity, and sales.
• Interest and ability in developing customer relationships and identifying business opportunities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software and comfortable learning technology platforms necessary to manage the operation.
• Ability to use basic website, social media, and electronic sales tools, or coordinate with others who provide those functions.
• Ability to delegate appropriately rather than personally performing every function of the operation.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Ability to drive agency vehicles. Valid license and ability to drive in NYS.

• Visual, auditory and motor skills necessary to maintain safety standards within the facility.
• Ability to safely lift heavy objects from floor height to table height and back.
• Ability to safely operate and use a pallet jack, hand cart and floor dolly in materials handling operations.
• Ability to safely operate or work around industrial woodworking equipment as required by the position.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• EDUCATION: High School Diploma or Equivalent required. Associate's or Bachelor's degree in business, manufacturing, operations, management, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may substitute for formal education.
• EXPERIENCE: Experience in manufacturing, production, woodworking, assembly, or a related operational environment. Prior supervisory or leadership experience required. Experience coordinating production, workflow, inventory, quality, equipment, or similar operational responsibilities required. Experience working directly with customers, vendors, sales, estimating, or business development is preferred. Experience with woodworking equipment and manufacturing processes is strongly preferred.