Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa
Plant Manager jobs in Iowa concentrate in food and beverage processing, agricultural manufacturing, and industrial equipment production, with demand at every level from shift supervisor promotions to senior operations leadership. The busiest hiring markets are Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport, where established manufacturers such as John Deere, Quaker Oats, and Tyson Foods maintain large production operations. The most in-demand specialties are continuous improvement leadership, food safety compliance, and lean manufacturing. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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manufacturing company
Job Description
Senior Plant Manager / Production Manager / Manufacturing Manager / Operations Manager in Northern Iowa needed to run a metals machining and assembly operation of 100 people. Experience with CNC and manual machining, metal products assembly, parts making, machinery, fabricating equipment, or materials handling systems would be a suitable fit.
This job is in a small town in northern Iowa. If you are willing to relocate, or live in that area, please apply.
- Work to maintain a safety-first culture
- Improve efficiencies in quality control and on-time shipments
- Oversee a production organization that keeps workers safe while maintaining cost control.
- Make decisions about operating and capital budget (P&L).
- Lead a team of people in production, supply chain, and facility maintenance
- Improve plant profitability, develop quality and safety initiatives.
- Drive cost reduction through Lean Manufacturing practices and plant layout
Qualifications
- Experience in production and plant management for a company that makes steel parts and assemblies is key.
- Should have at least ten years’ experience, including four in a supervisory role involving budgets.
- Should be familiar with lean manufacturing and six sigma.
- Familiarity with CNC machining is a plus but not required. Should be able to read and interpret fabrication drawings.
- Must have experience managing skilled machine operators, machinists, and assembly workers.
- Should have good experience with plant budgets and managing production levels.
- Excellent safety record a must.
This client does not wish to provide visa sponsorship of any kind. Please apply only if you do not need sponsorship or employment authorization now or in the future.
You can write to me directly pearl AT jobspot DOT com
Additional Information
Pearl Martin, Image Associates Inc. pearl AT jobspot DOT com
Please look me up on LinkedIn, and send me an invitation to Link: www.linkedin.com/in/pearlmartin1
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Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Plant Manager Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in plant manager jobs across Iowa.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, or a related field
- Five or more years of progressive supervisory experience in a manufacturing or production environment
- Demonstrated experience implementing lean manufacturing or Six Sigma process improvements
- Familiarity with OSHA safety regulations and Iowa workplace safety compliance requirements
- Proficiency managing production scheduling, budgeting, and key performance indicator reporting
- Strong experience coordinating cross-functional teams including maintenance, quality, and supply chain
Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a plant manager in Iowa?
Most plant manager roles in Iowa require a bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or operations management paired with progressive supervisory experience on the production floor. Iowa does not require a state-issued license specific to plant managers, but credentials such as a Certified Production and Inventory Management designation or a Six Sigma certification strengthen candidacy significantly. Large Iowa manufacturers in food processing and agricultural equipment typically promote from within, so starting as a production supervisor or operations coordinator at an Iowa facility is the most common path.
How much do plant managers make in Iowa?
Plant managers in Iowa earn a median of about $106,510 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $74,830 for the lowest 10% to over $171,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire plant managers in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring plant managers in Iowa include 3M, ADM, and Amcor, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Iowa's strong food processing and agricultural equipment sectors mean that manufacturing-focused employers across the state generate consistent plant manager openings throughout the year.
Which Iowa cities have the most plant manager jobs?
Waterloo, Clinton, and Sioux City have the most plant manager openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors the market through its concentration of food production and consumer goods facilities, while Cedar Rapids draws demand from grain processing and industrial manufacturing, and Davenport benefits from its position in the Quad Cities manufacturing corridor with ties to heavy equipment and metal fabrication employers.
How can I get hired as a plant manager in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a production supervisor or shift lead role at one of Iowa's major food processing or agricultural manufacturing facilities, where internal promotion to plant manager is common. Employers such as large meat processing operations in Waterloo and grain handling facilities in Cedar Rapids regularly hire production associates and team leads from whom they develop future managers. Earning a lean manufacturing or quality management credential from an Iowa community college program, such as those offered through Kirkwood Community College, gives candidates a measurable edge when competing for that first supervisory step.
Where can I find and apply to plant manager jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to plant manager jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers across the state. Search the roles listed on this page, identify the ones that fit your experience and location, and apply directly to the employers that match what you're looking for.
See All 22 Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa
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