Plant Manager

Plant Manager

At Fenner Precision Polymers, a Michelin Group company, we're committed to delivering high-performance solutions that power critical applications across industries. Our culture is built on safety, innovation, continuous improvement, and a shared dedication to excellence. Wevalue teamwork, adaptability, and a positive work environment where every employee plays a vital role in our success.

Be part of a company that values your contribution and invests in your future.

Own the overall performance, culture, and evolution of our high-tech coated fabrics manufacturing site—building a safe, disciplined, engaged, and high-performing operation that supports growth, innovation, and world-class customer service.

The Plant Manager is the senior operational leader of the High-Tech Coated Fabrics Gaffney facility, responsible for building and sustaining a safe, high-performing manufacturing organization.

This role owns the day-to-day execution and P&L performance of the site, while also shaping the long-term operational roadmap—developing people, strengthening processes, improving cost structure, enabling growth, and protecting the Fenner People and Brand through uncompromising safety and quality leadership.

Health, Safety & Environmental Accountabilities:

• Serve as the visible champion of safety and environmental stewardship for the site, ensuring Environmental, Health & Safety behaviors are embedded as a core value and the first priority in every decision, process, and operation.
• Build and sustain a proactive culture where associates are empowered, engaged, and accountable—actively participating in EHS programs, hazard identification, and continuous risk reduction.
• Ensure timely, thoughtful follow-up on associate safety concerns and recommendations, reinforcing trust and demonstrating that every voice matters.
• Continuously evolve EHS policies, rules, and work instructions to support changing business needs while strengthening risk awareness, discipline, and operational resilience.
• Lead by example through visible presence on the floor—conducting safety walks, engaging in meaningful safety conversations, and reinforcing housekeeping, safe behaviors, and standards.
• Establish high standards for incident reporting by ensuring hazards, near misses, and incidents are consistently and accurately reported, investigated, and addressed.
• Actively participate in incident investigations and corrective action development.
• Create an environment where safety is understood as a shared responsibility and a critical enabler of operational excellence, employee well-being, and long-term business success.

Production Operations:

• Lead and mentor salaried staff, set high expectations, and consistently enforce accountability throughout the organization.
• Collaborate effectively with the supply chain team in support of SI&OP processes.
• Execute the production schedule ensuring on time performance and schedule adherence to the plan.
• Determine and manage direct labor staffing levels and lead indirect organizational design in collaboration with the supply chain team to ensure efficient production execution, minimize downtime, and achieve operational targets.
• Take ownership of site P&L results by establishing budgets, tracking financial performance, and implementing strategies to achieve profitability targets.
• Lead with 6S mindset to ensure our facilities are clean and organized.
• Manage physical assets by scheduling maintenance, performing risk assessments, and optimizing equipment use to minimize interruptions and extend asset life.
• Lead facility staff to ensure our buildings are secure and well maintained.
• Drive and oversee continuous improvement initiatives across all departments at the site, with a focus on optimizing processes, increasing employee engagement, and advancing operational excellence.
• Member of the High-Tech Coated Fabrics leadership team reporting to the vice president.
• Maintain and Promote Fenner Precision Polymers Values and Behaviors at all times.

Quality:

• Develop and maintain in-process and finished goods inspection procedures that incorporate statistical process controls and real-time monitoring to prevent quality escapes. Establish clear go/no-go criteria for operators and implement targeted measures to reduce the dollar value of scrap.
• Provide direct support to Quality staff by ensuring there are structured problem-solving sessions, root cause analyses, and the development and implementation of corrective action plans. Track the effectiveness of solutions through follow-up audits and performance metrics.
• Work closely with QA Process associates to regularly audit processes for compliance with ISO9001 and other relevant quality standards. Address non-conformances through documented corrective actions and monitor ongoing compliance using established quality metrics.

Continuous Improvement:

• Collaborate with engineering team to identify and execute CI initiatives within the facility.
• Routinely review work instructions and operator guidance to ensure clarity and simplicity of instructions.
• Keeps abreast of new technologies that may have an application in our operations to improve efficiency.

Strategic Support:

• Engage with sales & product management to understand changing market needs and ensure our production processes and equipment plans are aligned to support growth and emerging needs.
• Participate in routine budgeting processes by proposing future staffing plans and capital investment requirements to enable growth.
• Participate in the research, identification and evaluation of M&A targets possessing new materials or technologies that Fenner may seek to acquire or initiate an alliance with.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Serve as the senior people leader for the site, building a high-performance, engaged organization aligned with Fenner values, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top talent by setting clear expectations, providing regular performance feedback, and holding leaders accountable for results and behaviors.
• Create an environment where associates are motivated, engaged, and proud of their contribution—fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and collaboration.
• Actively coach and mentor supervisors, managers, and high-potential talent, strengthening the leadership bench and ensuring long-term organizational capability.
• Champion workforce development by ensuring robust onboarding, training, and skill-building programs that enable associates to grow alongside the business.
• Communicate with clarity and consistency through 1:1 discussions, team meetings, KPIs, and town halls—ensuring alignment to priorities, transparency on performance, and a shared understanding of goals.
• Continuously assess and evolve the site's organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities to maximize team effectiveness, support individual development, and position the facility for future growth.

Career Progression Opportunities:

• Director of Operations

Education and/or Relative Experience:

• BS degree, preferably in a technical discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification Preferred
• 15 years of progressively responsible work experience with last 10 being in operations leadership roles.
• Experience using ERP systems and understanding of work order flow and material management transactions in a manufacturing environment.
• Intimately familiar with developing and improving processes.
• Proven track record of leading successful teams focused on operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.