The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and operational performance of the Mobis South Carolina Electrified Powertrain (MSCe) manufacturing facility. This role directs and coordinates plant operations, including Production, Quality, Production Control & Material Management (PCMM), Logistics, and Maintenance, to achieve company objectives related to Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDCM). The Plant Manager serves as the senior operational leader of the facility and is accountable for plant readiness, launch execution, production ramp-up, operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and longterm business growth. This position provides both strategic and day-to-day operational leadership to ensure the successful achievement of startup, equipment installation and commissioning, pilot production, Start of Production (SOP), capacity expansion, and customer delivery objectives. The Plant Manager acts as the primary plant representative for customer visits, operational reviews, business discussions, audits, and performance escalation matters while maintaining close collaboration with Headquarters, MCCA, customers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies. As a key member of the site leadership team, the incumbent drives cross-functional alignment, organizational development, and continuous improvement across manufacturing operations. The Plant Manager plays a critical role in establishing the MSCe manufacturing operation, ensuring successful facility launch, operational stabilization, and achievement of targeted production capacity.
Responsibilities:- (To perform successfully in this position, the incumbent must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned.)Plant Operations Leadership
- Lead and oversee all manufacturing operations to achieve company goals, production targets, and customer requirements.
- Develop and implement operational strategies supporting plant startup, production ramp-up, capacity expansion, and long-term growth.
- Lead plant readiness, launch management, equipment installation, commissioning, pilot production, SOP, and production ramp-up activities.
- Establish and monitor key operational metrics, including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Morale, and Productivity.
- Drive cross-functional problem solving and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant performance.
- Ensure compliance with MOBIS policies, customer requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
- Act as the primary plant representative for customer visits, operational reviews, performance escalations, and strategic discussions.
Production Management:
Direct all production activities to achieve production schedules, capacity targets, product quality requirements, and customer delivery commitments.
Optimize manufacturing resources, manpower planning, line balancing, equipment utilization, throughput, and overall operational effectiveness.
Lead production readiness for new programs and support process validation, trial builds, pilot production, and manufacturing process improvements.
Coordinate cross-functional activities to resolve operational issues, remove launch constraints, and ensure stable production performance.
Quality Leadership:
Ensure compliance with the quality management system, customer-specific requirements, and applicable automotive industry standards.
Lead quality improvement initiatives and foster a culture of defect prevention, accountability, and continuous quality excellence.
Oversee customer quality performance, corrective actions, root cause investigations, containment activities, and audit readiness.
Support the implementation and maintenance of quality systems and processes aligned with IATF 16949, VDA requirements, and applicable OEM customer-specific requirements.
Production Control, Material Management & Logistics:
Oversee production planning, material planning, inventory control, warehousing, and logistics operations.
Ensure uninterrupted and timely material availability to support launch and production requirements.
Monitor inventory accuracy, material flow efficiency, warehouse performance, and on-time delivery results.
Coordinate supply chain activities with customers, suppliers, and internal teams to achieve delivery, inventory, and production objectives.
Maintenance & Facility Readiness:
Oversee maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability, uptime, preventive maintenance effectiveness, and operational readiness.
Lead maintenance readiness for equipment installation, commissioning, trial production, SOP, and production ramp-up.
Promote safe operating practices and coordinate with the responsible EHS function to support compliance, incident prevention, and corrective actions.
Support facility readiness, utility availability, infrastructure improvements, and technical issue resolution required for plant operations.
Customer Management:
Serve as the senior plant contact for OEM customers regarding plant performance, launch status, delivery, quality, capacity, and operational concerns.
Lead preparation for customer visits, audits, operational reviews, business meetings, and escalation discussions.
Ensure timely cross-functional response to customer concerns and oversee implementation of sustainable corrective actions.
Maintain effective customer relationships and align plant priorities with customer expectations and business commitments.
Organizational Leadership & Profitability Management:
Manage plant operating budgets, capital expenditures (CAPEX), cost improvement initiatives, and overall plant financial performance.
Drive productivity, cost reduction, waste elimination, and profitability improvement while protecting safety, quality, and delivery performance.
Develop department leaders and support workforce planning, succession planning, organizational capability, and employee engagement.
Collaborate with Business Administration and executive leadership to achieve operational, financial, and strategic business objectives.
AUTHORITY & SCOPEThis position is responsible for the overall management and operational performance of MSCe manufacturing operations, including Production, Quality, Production Control & Material Management (PCMM), Logistics, and Maintenance. The incumbent exercises independent judgment in plant operations, launch execution, production planning, resource allocation, cost and profitability management, quality performance, customer response, and operational improvement initiatives within approved company guidelines. The position partners closely with executive leadership, Headquarters, MCCA, customers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies to achieve business objectives and operational excellence. Matters involving significant financial impact, strategic business decisions, legal risks, major organizational changes, or significant customer escalations are reviewed with executive leadership as appropriate.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Yes, Directly oversees department leaders responsible for Production, Maintenance, Quality, Production Control & Material Management (PCMM), and Logistics. Provides strategic leadership and operational direction across all manufacturing functions, ensuring alignment with business objectives while driving operational excellence, employee development, accountability, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Qualifications
Required Education & Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business Management, or a related field.
Minimum 15 years of progressive manufacturing experience, including at least 7 years of leadership experience in automotive manufacturing operations.
Demonstrated experience leading plant startup, greenfield launch, equipment installation and commissioning, pilot production, SOP, or production ramp-up activities.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing operations, production systems, launch management, and operational excellence methodologies.
Thorough understanding of automotive quality standards and core tools, including IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and MSA.Working knowledge of VDA requirements and OEM customer-specific requirements applicable to the assigned business.
Strong knowledge of production planning, material management, inventory control, logistics, and supply chain operations.
Knowledge of maintenance management, equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and manufacturing facility readiness.
Understanding of OSHA requirements and the ability to partner effectively with the responsible EHS function to support a safe and compliant workplace.
Proven ability to lead large, cross-functional manufacturing organizations and drive measurable operational performance.
Strong leadership, coaching, employee development, succession planning, and organizational management skills.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, presentation, negotiation, customer management, and stakeholder management abilities.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, escalation management, and decision-making capabilities.
Experience managing operating budgets, cost reduction initiatives, capital investments, profitability, and business planning activities.
Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution in a fast-paced startup and manufacturing environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, and experience with manufacturing reporting systems.
Preferred Education & Experience:
Experience in automotive, electric vehicle (EV), battery, electrified powertrain, or advanced manufacturing environments.
Experience leading a greenfield project, startup plant, major plant launch, or capacity expansion.
Experience overseeing Production, Quality, Production Control & Material Management, Logistics, and Maintenance functions.
Experience working within a global manufacturing organization and matrix reporting structure.
Experience supporting OEM customer requirements, customer audits, launch reviews, and performance escalations.
Experience coordinating with Headquarters, regional leadership teams, suppliers, customers, and regulatory agencies.
Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement leadership experience preferred.
Certificates, Licenses & Registrations:
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent Continuous Improvement certificationpreferred.
Working Conditions:
Manufacturing plant environment with routine presence on the production floor and frequent interaction with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, and administrative personnel. The incumbent is expected to regularly support plant readiness activities, equipment installation and commissioning, pilot production, SOP preparation, production operations, customer visits, audits, operational reviews, continuous improvement initiatives, and capacity expansion activities at the MSCe manufacturing facility. Occasional domestic and international travel may be required for training, customer meetings, benchmarking activities, business reviews, supplier visits, and coordination with Headquarters, MCCA, customers, and other MOBIS operations. The position may require extended working hours during plant startup, production ramp-up, major operational events, customer support activities, audits, or other business-critical situations.
