Assistant Plant Manager Jobs
Assistant Plant Manager jobs are open across food and beverage manufacturing, automotive production, chemical processing, and consumer goods, at every level from first-line supervisory to senior operations leadership, with specializations in production scheduling, quality control, and continuous improvement. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 203+ Assistant Plant Manager jobs
Assistant Plant Manager
Reports To
Plant Manager
Location
Decatur, IL
FLSA Status
Exempt
Schedule
Monday–Friday, first shift; no weekends, holidays or rotating shifts
JOB SUMMARY
The Assistant Plant Manager is a leadership role on the plant floor that supports and reinforces the Plant Manager’s directives and production priorities. The role has direct leadership over metals production (output, quality and daily execution) and oversight of the remainder of plant operations through the Assembly Team Lead, giving it visibility and authority across all major production areas. It also owns budget and purchase order (PO) authority for sheet metal used in production.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Production Leadership
- Support and execute the Plant Manager’s directives across daily plant operations.
- Provide direct leadership over metals production, owning output, quality and daily execution across welding, laser cutting, machining and paint release.
- Lead the daily production cadence, including morning meetings, floor walks and end-of-shift protocols.
- Lead the remainder of plant operations, providing guidance, coaching and oversight of assembly production goals in partnership with the Assembly Team Lead.
- Coordinate scheduling and resource allocation across metals and assembly to keep jobs on track.
Quality
- Verify that finished parts conform to engineering prints, including dimensional accuracy, weld placement and overall specification, through visual audits and team inspection practices.
- Confirm all welds are properly cleaned up (spatter, burrs and sharp edges removed) before paint, and release only conforming parts to the paint line. Partner with Quality team to confirm all welds.
- Complete a visual quality check of all equipment before it leaves the table for paint.
- Document and communicate nonconformances, coordinate rework, and maintain records of production issues and quality escapes.
- Drive root cause and corrective action on quality issues, using engineering logs for traceability when appropriate.
Safety and Compliance
- Enforce safety protocols, PPE use and shop floor standards across metals and assembly.
- Investigate incidents and near misses in partnership with HR and Plant Manager, lead safety training and toolbox talks, and help keep the plant ready for OSHA compliance.
Budget, Purchasing and Systems
- Own budget and PO authority for ordering sheet metal used in production, within approval limits set by the Plant Manager.
- Monitor and audit time tracking and rework on timecards and in Acumatica.
- Serve as the plant-floor technical expert for ERP processes and adherence: support, implement and train on ERP processes and hold the team accountable to them.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with Engineering on print questions, design clarifications and engineering changes that affect production.
- Work with Supply Chain and Purchasing on material availability, lead times and sheet-metal ordering.
- Work with Quality to resolve equipment and process issues that affect output.
- Escalate matters requiring the Plant Manager’s decision-making authority while managing day-to-day production direction, and act on the Plant Manager’s behalf on production-floor matters as directed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct leadership of the metals production team (laser, machining, reduction, welding and paint) and the Assembly Team Lead, who in turn leads the assembly production team. Responsibilities include performance reviews, merit reviews and implementation, disciplinary documentation, and hiring and termination, in partnership with HR and Plant Manager. When the Plant Manager is offsite, the Assistant Plant Manager assumes authority over all production, safety and quality.
HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED
- On-time job completion and schedule adherence
- First-pass quality at all release thresholds, rework hours and quality escapes
- Sheet-metal spend against budget
- Safety record and incident follow-through
- Team development, retention and ERP/time-tracking compliance
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: 7+ years in metal fabrication or heavy equipment manufacturing, including 3+ years leading a production team.
- Technical: Strong print-reading skills and working knowledge of weld quality standards; familiarity with laser cutting, machining and welding processes.
- Leadership: Proven ability to coach, hold people accountable and handle performance, discipline and hiring.
- Systems: Experience with an ERP or production tracking system; comfortable supporting ERP processes.
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; technical degree or equivalent experience preferred.
- Training: Align provides forklift and overhead crane certification internally.
Assistant Plant Manager
Reports To
Plant Manager
Location
Decatur, IL
FLSA Status
Exempt
Schedule
Monday–Friday, first shift; no weekends, holidays or rotating shifts
JOB SUMMARY
The Assistant Plant Manager is a leadership role on the plant floor that supports and reinforces the Plant Manager’s directives and production priorities. The role has direct leadership over metals production (output, quality and daily execution) and oversight of the remainder of plant operations through the Assembly Team Lead, giving it visibility and authority across all major production areas. It also owns budget and purchase order (PO) authority for sheet metal used in production.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Production Leadership
- Support and execute the Plant Manager’s directives across daily plant operations.
- Provide direct leadership over metals production, owning output, quality and daily execution across welding, laser cutting, machining and paint release.
- Lead the daily production cadence, including morning meetings, floor walks and end-of-shift protocols.
- Lead the remainder of plant operations, providing guidance, coaching and oversight of assembly production goals in partnership with the Assembly Team Lead.
- Coordinate scheduling and resource allocation across metals and assembly to keep jobs on track.
Quality
- Verify that finished parts conform to engineering prints, including dimensional accuracy, weld placement and overall specification, through visual audits and team inspection practices.
- Confirm all welds are properly cleaned up (spatter, burrs and sharp edges removed) before paint, and release only conforming parts to the paint line. Partner with Quality team to confirm all welds.
- Complete a visual quality check of all equipment before it leaves the table for paint.
- Document and communicate nonconformances, coordinate rework, and maintain records of production issues and quality escapes.
- Drive root cause and corrective action on quality issues, using engineering logs for traceability when appropriate.
Safety and Compliance
- Enforce safety protocols, PPE use and shop floor standards across metals and assembly.
- Investigate incidents and near misses in partnership with HR and Plant Manager, lead safety training and toolbox talks, and help keep the plant ready for OSHA compliance.
Budget, Purchasing and Systems
- Own budget and PO authority for ordering sheet metal used in production, within approval limits set by the Plant Manager.
- Monitor and audit time tracking and rework on timecards and in Acumatica.
- Serve as the plant-floor technical expert for ERP processes and adherence: support, implement and train on ERP processes and hold the team accountable to them.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with Engineering on print questions, design clarifications and engineering changes that affect production.
- Work with Supply Chain and Purchasing on material availability, lead times and sheet-metal ordering.
- Work with Quality to resolve equipment and process issues that affect output.
- Escalate matters requiring the Plant Manager’s decision-making authority while managing day-to-day production direction, and act on the Plant Manager’s behalf on production-floor matters as directed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct leadership of the metals production team (laser, machining, reduction, welding and paint) and the Assembly Team Lead, who in turn leads the assembly production team. Responsibilities include performance reviews, merit reviews and implementation, disciplinary documentation, and hiring and termination, in partnership with HR and Plant Manager. When the Plant Manager is offsite, the Assistant Plant Manager assumes authority over all production, safety and quality.
HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED
- On-time job completion and schedule adherence
- First-pass quality at all release thresholds, rework hours and quality escapes
- Sheet-metal spend against budget
- Safety record and incident follow-through
- Team development, retention and ERP/time-tracking compliance
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: 7+ years in metal fabrication or heavy equipment manufacturing, including 3+ years leading a production team.
- Technical: Strong print-reading skills and working knowledge of weld quality standards; familiarity with laser cutting, machining and welding processes.
- Leadership: Proven ability to coach, hold people accountable and handle performance, discipline and hiring.
- Systems: Experience with an ERP or production tracking system; comfortable supporting ERP processes.
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; technical degree or equivalent experience preferred.
- Training: Align provides forklift and overhead crane certification internally.
See All 203+ Assistant Plant Manager Jobs
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Find Assistant Plant Manager JobsAssistant Plant Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Augmentis18A
- Leisure Care7
- Heidelberg Materials5
- BayCare Health System5
- ARCOSA3
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Chemicals & Materials
- Manufacturing
- Science & Research
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in assistant plant manager jobs.
- Three to five years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing or production environment
- Demonstrated knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma process improvement methods
- Proficiency with production management software and ERP systems
- OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification or willingness to obtain it
- Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, operations management, or a related field
- Experience with safety compliance programs, audits, and root cause analysis
Tips for Your Assistant Plant Manager Job Search
Quantify output and efficiency gains
Hiring managers for assistant plant manager roles want numbers. Rewrite every bullet on your resume to include production volumes managed, OEE improvements you drove, or downtime percentages you reduced. Vague phrases like 'improved efficiency' get screened out before a human reads them.
List your certifications above the fold
Certifications like Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or OSHA 30 are filters in many applicant tracking systems. Put them in a dedicated section near the top of your resume so automated screening tools register them before your work history is even read.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists assistant plant manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by shift and facility type
Assistant plant manager roles differ significantly between continuous-operation facilities and standard-shift plants. Filter your search by industry and read job postings for shift expectations before applying so your availability and experience align with what the employer actually needs.
Prepare a turnaround or improvement story
Interviewers for assistant plant manager positions almost always ask for a specific example of a process you fixed or a team performance problem you solved. Have one clear story ready with the situation, your actions, and a measurable result you can state in under two minutes.
Negotiate start date around plant cycles
Many manufacturing facilities have scheduled shutdowns, model-year changeovers, or peak production seasons. When you receive an offer, ask about the facility's calendar and frame your preferred start date around a natural transition point, which signals operational awareness and makes onboarding smoother.
Assistant Plant Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most assistant plant managers?
The most active employers for assistant plant managers right now are Augmentis, Leisure Care, and Heidelberg Materials, and the most openings are in Texas, Florida, and Georgia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is consistent across food processing, automotive assembly, and consumer goods manufacturing.
How many assistant plant manager jobs are remote?
About 19% of assistant plant manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most of the role requires physical presence on the production floor. The sub-functions most likely to allow partial remote work include reporting, compliance documentation, and scheduling coordination rather than direct operations oversight.
How do you become an assistant plant manager?
Start by building hands-on experience in a production or manufacturing environment, moving from operator or technician roles into team lead or shift supervisor positions. Develop working knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma methods, pursue an OSHA certification, and take on cross-functional projects in scheduling, quality, or safety to demonstrate readiness for plant-level leadership.
Can you get hired as an assistant plant manager with little experience?
Some employers will consider candidates with strong supervisory experience in adjacent industries if the operational fundamentals transfer. Focus your resume on measurable results from team leadership, safety compliance, or process improvement in any production-adjacent setting. Targeting smaller facilities or newer plants where teams are lean can lower the experience threshold compared to large, established operations.
What does the assistant plant manager interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screen focused on your operations background and leadership experience. This is typically followed by an on-site interview that includes a facility walkthrough, behavioral questions about managing teams and handling production disruptions, and sometimes a panel with plant leadership and HR. Final-round candidates may be asked to present a short operational improvement proposal.
Where can I find and apply to assistant plant manager jobs?
You can find and apply to assistant plant manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 203+ Assistant Plant Manager Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Assistant Plant Manager Jobs