Plant Manager

Plant Manager – Elk Grove Village, IL

Full-Time | $85,000–$115,000 + 20–25% Bonus | Onsite | Immediate Opening

A growing industrial equipment manufacturer in Elk Grove Village, IL is seeking a hands-on Plant Manager to lead production operations within a small, high-precision manufacturing environment. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and operational leader who enjoys balancing time between the office and the shop floor, driving continuous improvement, and mentoring a close-knit team.

About the Role

The Plant Manager will oversee production planning, materials and stock management, KPI development, and cross-functional coordination. This position focuses on optimizing efficiency, implementing process improvements, and preparing the organization for a future ERP transition. The role requires someone equally comfortable managing from the office and being hands-on in production.

You will report functionally to a global operations group and locally to executive leadership, managing two direct reports : a shop-floor-focused Operations / Production Lead and a Logistics & Purchasing Lead. The broader team includes approximately 15 production staff and 6–8 office personnel.

Key Responsibilities

Lead production planning, scheduling, and materials management for a small-scale, made-to-order assembly environment

Develop, track, and analyze KPIs to improve efficiency and productivity

Mentor and manage a small team, fostering accountability and growth

Collaborate with Purchasing, Sales, Accounting, and HR to align operations

Drive process improvements and prepare for an ERP implementation (transition from QuickBooks to Microsoft Dynamics)

Balance strategic planning with hands-on presence on the shop floor

Work closely with global counterparts to align with organizational goals

Qualifications

Required :

5–20 years of production or operations management experience in small to mid-sized manufacturing environments

5+ years of leadership experience managing people and processes

Strong skills in KPI development, analysis, and process optimization

Experience in OEM-style manufacturing, machine building, or low-volume assembly

Proficiency in Excel and MS Office; experience with ERP systems (QuickBooks preferred; Microsoft Dynamics a plus)

Balanced leadership style — strategic, analytical, and hands-on

Must live within 30 minutes of Elk Grove Village, IL

Preferred :

Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in a related field

Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies

Exposure to global or European-owned business environments

What’s in It for You

Leadership role within a small, collaborative team

High visibility and autonomy to shape the future structure of the facility

Direct connection to international technical teams and senior leadership

Opportunity to lead meaningful change in a well-established manufacturing organization

Strong benefits and bonus structure

Position Details

Hours : Monday–Friday, approximately 7 : 15 AM – 4 : 00 / 5 : 00 PM

No weekends or overtime required

Salary : $85,000–$115,000 base + 20–25% annual bonus potential

Start Date : ASAP

You should be proficient in :

• Leadership / People Management
• Bachelor's Degree
• Continuous Improvement
• CNC Tooling
• 120 / 208 / 240 / 480 Voltage Systems
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Coaching and Mentoring Experience