Plant Manager

About Kewaunee, an Oshkosh company

Kewaunee Fabrications is a top-quality, heavy fabrication specialist. Since 1941, we've offered turnkey advantages by providing all aspects of heavy fabrications—manufacturing, engineering, cutting, forming, welding, machining, blasting, painting and assembly—under one roof. It's what we do. From start to finish, we offer the single-source advantages of greater control and efficiency, improved accuracy and complete accountability. In 1999, Kewaunee Fabrications joined the Oshkosh family and helps transform tomorrow with their innovative heavy fabrication capabilities.

Plant Manager R47782
The Plant Manager, Manufacturing Operations is responsible for fostering a People First culture while leading multiple functional areas within the Kewaunee Fabrications facility, a unionized manufacturing operation with approximately 250 team members. This role oversees the planning, organization, and execution of production operations, driving continuous improvement in safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. The Plant Manager ensures all production and contractual commitments are met in alignment with the Operations strategy and is accountable for developing team members to support future growth and organizational success. This role will be based onsite in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

YOUR IMACT:  

These duties are not meant to be all-inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

• Foster a People First culture by promoting employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and a proactive approach to workplace safety, with a focus on achieving exceptional safety performance.
• Lead and develop front-line leaders and manufacturing teams within a unionized facility, ensuring operational excellence in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Oversee daily plant operations and manufacturing processes to achieve production schedules, customer commitments, quality standards, and budget objectives.
• Drive operational performance by monitoring production metrics, labor utilization, expenses, and key performance indicators (KPIs), implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives through the application of Lean, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies to improve quality, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies, manufacturing objectives, workforce plans, and capital investment recommendations that support business goals and long-term growth.
• Partner with Operations leadership to ensure effective labor planning, talent acquisition, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members and leaders through performance management, career development, and skills training programs.
• Maintain positive labor relations through the administration of the collective bargaining agreement, grievance resolution, and participation in labor-management discussions.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including customers, business leaders, and cross-functional partners, to support operational execution and strategic initiatives.
• Facilitate effective communication of short- and long-range business plans, ensuring alignment and accountability across the organization.
• Participate in and lead daily, weekly business updates, preparing and communicating operational performance, priorities, risks, and action plans.
   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, or a related field, with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five (5) or more years of management experience leading and developing others.
   

STANDOUT QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Operations leadership experience at a unionized facility
• Leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with welding & fabrication.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment or heavy-duty equipment manufacturing.
• Knowledge in six sigma principles
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

*OSK1917

#LI-BB1

Pay Range:

Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at [email protected].

Oshkosh Corporation is a merit-based Equal Opportunity Employer. Job opportunities are open for application to all qualified individuals and selection decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. To the extent that information is provided or collected regarding categories as provided by law it will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application.

Oshkosh Corporation will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with Oshkosh Corporation's legal duty to furnish information.

Certain positions with Oshkosh Corporation require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. Persons," as defined in these regulations. Generally, a "U.S. Person" is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or an individual who has been admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.