Kamps Pallets Jobs Hiring Now

Job Summary

Kamps Pallets is seeking an experienced, motivated, and hands-on Plant Manager to lead the daily operations of our manufacturing facility. This position is responsible for driving operational excellence through a strong commitment to safety, customer service, quality, profitability, and employee engagement.

The ideal candidate is a visible leader who enjoys working alongside their team, learning the operation from the ground up, and building credibility through action. Success in this role requires a strong presence on the production floor, a willingness to ask questions and learn, and the ability to coach and develop employees while continuously improving operations.

In addition to leading day-to-day operations, the Plant Manager is expected to understand the financial performance of the business. This includes managing labor and operating costs, understanding key performance indicators (KPIs), making decisions that positively impact profitability, and effectively managing the plant's profit and loss (P&L).

This role is best suited for leaders who enjoy being highly engaged in day-to-day operations and maintaining a visible presence on the production floor. The Plant Manager is expected to spend the majority of their time on the production floor supporting employees, observing operations, identifying opportunities for improvement, and ensuring the plant operates safely, efficiently, and profitably.

Training & Onboarding

Our onboarding process is intentionally hands-on. New Plant Managers will spend approximately the first six weeks immersed in plant operations, learning each role within the plant, and working alongside production teams to gain a thorough understanding of our processes, equipment, and workflow. Once that operational foundation has been established, they will begin learning the systems, reporting, and administrative responsibilities that support the role. Throughout their tenure, Plant Managers are expected to maintain a strong presence on the production floor, where they lead by example, coach employees, and drive continuous improvement.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of plant operations while maintaining a safe, productive, and positive work environment.
• Maintain a consistent and visible presence on the production floor, providing leadership, coaching, and support throughout daily operations.
• Foster a culture centered on safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Complete the hands-on onboarding program by learning core production processes and operational workflows firsthand.
• Build strong relationships with employees and supervisors through regular engagement, coaching, and communication.
• Implement and enforce standardized operating procedures to improve safety, efficiency, and operational consistency.
• Champion workplace safety by ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Investigate safety incidents, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Evaluate operations through direct observation and employee feedback to identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, and workflow.
• Manage labor, equipment, inventory, and material resources to support production demands while controlling operating costs.
• Develop and execute strategies that improve operational performance while balancing safety, customer service, quality, and profitability.
• Understand and actively manage the financial performance of the facility, including labor costs, operating expenses, production efficiencies, and overall plant P&L.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to drive operational decisions and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Sales, Logistics, and other cross-functional teams to meet customer expectations and ensure exceptional service.
• Lead, develop, and hold accountable supervisors and production employees through coaching, feedback, recognition, and performance management.
• Conduct regular team meetings to communicate goals, reinforce expectations, celebrate successes, and address operational challenges.
• Promote a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous learning throughout the facility.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by senior leadership.

Qualifications/Required Experience

• Five or more years of progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing, production, industrial, recycling, or similar operations environment.
• Previous experience leading supervisors and hourly production teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing or influencing a facility's profit and loss (P&L), including labor, operating expenses, productivity, and cost control.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality systems, inventory management, and workplace safety.
• Proven ability to analyze operational and financial data to make sound business decisions.

Skills & Competencies

• Hands-on leadership style with a genuine desire to understand the operation from the ground up.
• Comfortable spending the majority of the workday on the production floor.
• Curious, humble, and willing to learn before implementing change.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities with the capacity to build trust at all levels of the organization.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.
• High level of accountability, integrity, transparency, and professionalism.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize competing responsibilities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent leadership experience.
• Experience leading a multi-shift manufacturing or industrial operation.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is highly desirable.

Pay: Up to $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person