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Job Description: Plant Manager

Company: Valew Quality Truck Bodies / 1954 Manufacturing 

Location: 4688 State Highway 16 S, Graham, TX 76450 

Classification: Full-Time Production 

Reports To: Roger Hayes, CEO and / or Courtney Hayes, COO 

Compensation: $165,000 annually 

Position Summary & Objective

The Plant Manager is a senior management executive responsible for the overall strategy, leadership, and operational execution of the Graham, TX manufacturing facility. This role directs and coordinates multiple production departments, Leadmen, and Department Seniors to ensure production schedules, safety protocols, and quality standards are consistently achieved. 

In addition to driving daily operational throughput, the Plant Manager acts as a vital bridge between California corporate operations and Texas manufacturing—actively adopting and standardizing California-developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), developing plant leadership pipelines, and fostering inter-company collaboration to deliver industry-leading truck bodies and parts. 

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

1. Talent Development, Mentorship & Cross-Department Leadership

  • Mentorship & Succession Planning: Actively mentor, coach, and develop Department Seniors, Leadmen, and high-potential production personnel to build strong bench strength and leadership pipelines.
  • Cross-Department Leadership Evaluation: Routinely assess leadership effectiveness, communication, and problem-solving skills across all department leads to ensure collaborative, cohesive management.
  • Skill Advancement & Training: Identify skill gaps across the workforce; implement hands-on cross-training initiatives to enhance team flexibility, technical capabilities, and career progression.
  • Performance Management: Administer comprehensive performance reviews in conjunction with Department Seniors and Human Resources, setting clear developmental and operational benchmarks. 

2. SOP Integration & Multi-Site Standardization (CA to TX)

  • SOP Adoption & Execution: Lead the systematic implementation and rollout of manufacturing, safety, and quality Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed at the California headquarters into daily Texas plant operations.
  • Process Alignment & Consistency: Ensure shop-floor fabrication, assembly techniques, and quality control guidelines strictly align with company-wide standards established in California.
  • Feedback & Continuous Refinement: Serve as the primary liaison to provide constructive operational feedback and data from the Texas production floor back to California leadership, refining SOPs for maximum efficiency, scalability, and safety.
  • Compliance & Auditing: Conduct regular floor audits to verify that standardized work instructions are fully understood, consistently executed, and sustained across all shifts.

3. Production Scheduling & Operational Management

  • Production Tracking: Constantly monitor and track real-time production flow across all manufacturing lines and fabrication bays. 
  • Capacity Planning: Dynamically adjust production schedules based on fluctuating customer demand, material availability, and plant capacity. 
  • Labor & Time Allocation: Optimize workforce allocation and timekeeping to eliminate downtime and maximize plant productivity. 
  • Department Accountability: Set clear department-level production goals, holding leads strictly accountable for meeting schedules and output targets. 

4. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

  • Floor Walkthroughs: Perform continuous, routine safety walkthroughs to identify hazards and maintain an immaculate, safe plant environment. 
  • Policy Enforcement: Enforce mandatory compliance with all PPE requirements, tool usage guidelines, equipment maintenance schedules, and OSHA/company safety policies. 
  • Culture of Safety: Drive an uncompromising safety culture where accountability, proactive hazard mitigation, and team well-being are prioritized. 

5. Quality Control & Continuous Improvement

  • Quality Assurance: Monitor inspection processes to ensure all finished truck bodies, assemblies, and parts consistently meet or exceed Valew quality standards. 
  • Root-Cause Analysis: Investigate assembly discrepancies, rework issues, or defects, implementing permanent corrective actions and process improvements. 

6. Inventory, Purchasing & Logistics

  • Supply Flow Coordination: Collaborate closely with the Purchasing and Parts Departments to maintain steady flow-through of materials and avoid line-stoppage shortages. 
  • Inventory Control: Supervise inventory management, raw materials storage, WIP (work-in-progress) tracking, and finished goods staging. 
  • Logistics & Dispatch: Facilitate timely coordination between internal departments and logistics teams for shipping finished truck bodies and parts. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • Full supervisory oversight of plant Leadmen, Department Seniors, fabrication/assembly personnel, and support staff. 
  • Total operational responsibility for plant safety, inventory control, SOP adherence, production scheduling, and customer order fulfillment. 

Key Competencies & Qualifications

  • Core Competencies: Talent development, cross-functional leadership evaluation, process standardization, accountability, strategic problem-solving, and clear communication. 
  • Experience: Proven leadership experience as a Plant Manager, Production Manager, or Operations Director in commercial truck body manufacturing, heavy metal fabrication, trailer assembly, or industrial equipment manufacturing. 
  • SOP & Change Management: Demonstrated ability to adopt, translate, and enforce corporate standard operating procedures across distributed manufacturing sites.
  • Technical Acumen: Proficient with inventory/ERP systems, production scheduling methodologies, labor tracking, and regulatory manufacturing safety standards. 

Compensation & Benefits

  • Base Salary: $165,000 annually
  • Healthcare: Fully employer-paid medical coverage for the employee through Cigna 
  • Life & AD&D Insurance: $25,000 company-paid Life and AD&D coverage (voluntary supplemental coverage available) 
  • Paid Time Off: 1 week paid vacation + 5 paid sick days 
  • Tools & Allowances: Company-provided mobile phone, company credit card, and gas card for authorized business expenses 

Other Duties

Please note this job description is designed to cover a comprehensive overview of essential activities, duties, and responsibilities. Responsibilities and duties may be adjusted or assigned at any time with or without notice.