Plant Manager - Manufacturing

About the role

Trevor Frances Recruitment is supporting a confidential search for a Plant Manager to lead operations at a specialized manufacturing facility in Calgary, Alberta. The role suits a hands-on, entrepreneurial leader who enjoys being involved in day-to-day plant operations. The manager oversees end-to-end production, drives operational efficiency and helps build a safety-focused, performance-driven culture while supporting business growth and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee full plant operations, from raw material intake and production and fabrication to final product shipping
• Lead, coach and develop a team of about 20 employees and foster a positive workplace culture
• Promote safety, accountability and operational discipline, ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations
• Build strong relationships with employees, customers and cross-functional teams
• Ensure high-quality output and efficient turnaround of specialized product lines
• Integrate continuous improvement tools such as Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen into daily operations
• Develop systems to improve processes, productivity and efficiency, conduct time studies and set production standards
• Manage inventory levels and coordinate with supply chain partners
• Oversee production areas including fabrication, maintenance and related departments
• Manage staffing levels, scheduling and workforce planning

Required profile

• 5-8+ years of management experience in a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on leadership style, able to troubleshoot technical processes with the team
• Unionized environment experience required or strongly preferred
• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Business Management or a related field preferred
• Experience in furniture, bedding or polyurethane-based manufacturing is an asset

Required skills

• Inventory management, production planning and supply chain logistics
• Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement methods
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills