Plant Manager – Lead Critical Manufacturing & Operational Excellence in Support of U.S. Defense

At Day & Zimmermann, the work we do matters every day. As a Plant Manager at our Kansas facility, you’ll lead a critical manufacturing operation that directly supports the safety and effectiveness of the U.S. Military. This is more than a plant leadership role - you’ll drive strategy, elevate performance, and build a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement across a complex, high-impact operation. If you’re a proven manufacturing leader who thrives on developing teams, optimizing operations, and delivering results that truly make a difference, we want to hear from you.

As the Plant Manager, here is the work you'll do:

• Directs the manufacturing operations of all production lines of the business and key functional areas including Engineering, Maintenance and Quality. Responsible for overall management and safely achieve Company objectives at the lowest cost consistent with quality requirements. Drive key performance indicators across all areas of the manufacturing domain to ensure that all production commitments are delivered at cost objectives and on time to the highest quality standards. Balance workforce to reduce population fluctuation consistent with cost factors. 
• Partnership with the modernization team to ensure that manufacturing talent is developed to be ready for next generation manufacturing technology. Benchmark and share best practices across DZMG to achieve "One Munitions" standards of Excellence. 
• Drive implementation through employee engagement of Lean Business strategy and continuous improvement across all manufacturing related areas of the business and ensure lessons learned are enduring, tracked, spread across the D&Z Plants - Kansas manufacturing lines. 
• Instills trust with internal and external key stakeholders, regarding technical support for activities, to achieve best in class manufacturing and delivering customer-centric solutions. 
• Collaborate with Health, Safety, and Environmental to ensure issues are prioritized and facilitated. Work with the Engineering, Safety, Environmental and Facilities departments to mitigate hazards. 

This role is for you if you have these skills:

• Displays willingness to make decisions; Actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Develops strategies to achieve operational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Visions future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.
• Operations management - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Identifies and resolves problems with a sense of urgency; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.

And if you have these qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Business Management or Engineering. Required
• Master’s degree in Arts/Sciences (MA/MS) Preferred
• 10+ years with at least 8 years in leadership and operations management roles. Required
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing processes, i.e. Six Sigma, Kaizen, True Lean Required
• Experience in US Government contracting; extensive knowledge of ammunition products; Union Labor Relations Required

Candidates may be required to satisfy additional job-related requirements, including those established and controlled by third parties, as part of the selection process.

In compliance with this state’s pay transparency laws, the salary range for this role is $131,600 - $197,400. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as the final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. (The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements).

We care about our employees, and it shows. Our staff receive a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical/Rx, dental and vision coverage; life, AD&D and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; 100% paid maternity leave for up to 12 weeks, parental leave, family leave, other paid time off; voluntary benefits and discount programs to meet our employees’ individual needs including pet insurance for our furry family members!

To ensure a safe work environment while meeting the physical demands of the job, you must be able to perform the following physical and mental tasks, with or without a reasonable accommodation. See essential functions below: 

Essential Functions

• Visual acuity (e.g., needed to prepare and analyze data, to transcribe documents, to view a computer, to read, to inspect objects, to operate machinery R (Regular)
• Pushing or pulling (e.g., using a part of your body to press against something in a downward or outward direction, or in a dragging or hauling motion) N/A
• Balancing (e.g., maintaining equilibrium when walking, climbing, crouching etc.) R (Regular)
• Manual Dexterity (e.g., picking, pinching, typing, or other working that uses the fingers) I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Stooping (e.g., bending the spine at the waist) I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Grasping (e.g., use of hand to apply pressure) I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Reaching (e.g., reaching the arms or legs in any direction) R (Regular)
• Feeling (e.g., perceiving an object’s size, shape, texture etc.) I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Lifting motion or lifting objects more than 0 pounds I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Climbing (e.g., ascending/descending ladders, stair, scaffolding, ramps, pole etc. using feet and legs or hands/arms to climb) O/C (Often/ Critical)
• Walking R (Regular)
• Hearing R (Regular)
• Repetitive motions of any part of the body N/A
• Talking R (Regular)
• Kneeling, crouching or crawling I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Other N/A
• Capacity to think, concentrate and focus over long periods of time R (Regular)
• Ability to write complex documents in the [English] language R (Regular)
• Ability to read complex documents in [English] language R (Regular)
• Capacity to express thoughts orally (e.g., accurately, quick and loudly convey spoken instructions to workers) R (Regular)
• Capacity to reason and make sound decisions R (Regular)
• Other NA
• Ability to wear a mask, respirator, bullet proof vest, or other equipment N/A
• Ability to regularly perform all job functions at Company’s office or work site R (Regular)
• Ability to withstand environmental conditions (e.g., extreme heat or cold, grass, wind, sand, fumes, odors, gases, extreme noise, etc.) I/C (Intermittent/ Critical)
• Other N/A