Plant Manager

Job Description:

At ITW Food Equipment Group, people and food are our passion. We believe great food brings people together, and the relationships we share feed our inspiration to be the best we can be for one another.

It is our mission to provide food equipment that foodservice and food retail professionals can trust to work hard and deliver quality, consistent results day in and day out, empowering them to focus on what they love most—creating great food for great people.

As one of the premium brands under the ITW Food Equipment Group umbrella, at Vulcan, we are dedicated to exceptional commercial cooking equipment. It’s all we do.  Chefs and operators around the world recognize Vulcan as the best-in-class supplier for premier, energy-efficient foodservice equipment.  

If you’re passionate about building relationships, driving growth, and representing trusted brands that help customers succeed every day — we want to meet you.

We are seeking a Plant Manager to join our Charlotte, North Carolina team. As a Plant Manager you will be responsible for full site leadership and performance of the Charlotte manufacturing facility. This role has accountability for results across safety, quality, inventory, delivery, and productivity (SQIDP) and drives ITW’s enterprise strategy through focused execution, and continuous improvement applying ITW proprietary toolbox methodologies.

What You'll Do

• Lead plant performance aligned to ITW’s 80/20 Front-to-Back strategy.
• Ensure focus on high-value products, customers, and processes.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to reduce complexity and improve efficiency.
• Translate division priorities into clear, executable plant-level actions.
• Champion a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and simplification
• Responsible for plant-level financial performance, including cost control, productivity, and budget adherence.
• Partner with Finance to implement margin improvement and cost reduction initiatives.
• Ensure disciplined allocation of resources aligned to business priorities.
• Lead capital planning and execution (safety, productivity, and growth investments)
• Drive alignment between production schedules, labor, and material availability.
• Establish accountability for schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, and supplier performance.
• Remove barriers and align resources to meet customer demand.
• Partner closely with the on-site Engineering Manager and Sustaining Engineering team
• Ensure alignment between product design, manufacturability, and operational efficiency.
• Model and reinforce our Core Values.  
• Drive a safety-first culture aligned with “Every Accident is Preventable.”
• Partner with HR in a co-ownership model for employee relations, performance management, and development
• Strengthening leadership capability to drive accountability, execution, and a strong leadership pipeline
• Serve as the primary escalation point for building-related systems (security, fire protection, OSHA compliance)
• Ensure inspections, maintenance, and controls are functioning effectively.

What you Bring

• 8+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Proven ability to influence, lead teams, and collaborate cross-functionally while consistently delivering results.
• Strong understanding of ITW principles (80/20, PLS, decentralized leadership) or similar operating models
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent and build high-performing teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions using an 80/20 mindset.
• Strong financial acumen and operational decision-making capability
• Hands-on leadership style with strong plant floor presence
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and time management skills

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Be part of a respected global company with a reputation for quality and innovation.
• Enjoy a collaborative, people-first culture that values growth and creativity.
• Make a tangible impact with industry-leading brands trusted by professionals worldwide.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

Apply today and help shape the future of foodservice and retail equipment with Vulcan - ITW Food Equipment Group.

Additional information

ITW is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes. To be considered an applicant, please apply online to a specific job posting.

 If you are a qualified individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the online application system process due to your disability, please click here for information on how to contact us directly

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions / Other Considerations:

• Plant floor and Office
• Approximately 10% travel
• Onsite at Charlotte plant
• Must be able to bend, stoop, lift 50 pounds, reach and twist to complete all job tasks.
• Must be able to wear all required PPE (i.e., safety glasses, steel/composite toe safety shoes)

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. 

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.