Plant Manager

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Plant Manager to lead our multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) manufacturing operations in Valencia, CA. This on-site leadership role is responsible for ensuring the plant consistently meets tactical performance goals in quality, delivery, and cost, while also driving strategic initiatives to elevate operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will play a key role in transforming our U.S. MLCC facility, guiding it toward the next level of manufacturing excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Execution Efficiency:

• Drive the plant’s performance to consistently meet or exceed annual targets in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Yield, and Cost.
• Collaborate closely with R&D teams to ensure seamless transitions from product design to full-scale production.
• Align operational priorities with commercial objectives to support overall business strategy and execution.

1. Continuous Improvements:

• Process Optimization: Identify and eliminate inefficiencies and bottlenecks in manufacturing workflows to boost productivity, quality, and yield.
• Manufacturing Systems Enhancement: Improve existing systems or implement advanced manufacturing technologies to increase overall factory efficiency.
• Lean Methodologies: Lead the adoption and execution of lean tools and practices to streamline operations, minimize waste, and drive sustainable improvements.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze key performance metrics to uncover trends and provide actionable insights that support continuous improvement.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Track progress against improvement initiatives and proactively address areas requiring additional focus.
• P&L Impact: Drive improvements in forecast accuracy, bill of materials (BOM), and Oracle resource planning; manage working capital to improve inventory turns and align spending with lean operational goals.

1. Strategic Planning:

• Collaborate with corporate teams to translate strategic roadmaps into actionable plans that deliver measurable results.
• Develop and implement comprehensive operational plans aligned with the factory’s goals and long-term objectives.
• Foster cross-functional alignment to ensure seamless execution of strategic initiatives across departments.

1. Operating Culture:

• Cultivate a results-driven culture rooted in accountability and ownership at all levels.
• Promote a mindset of continuous improvement through innovation and proactive problem-solving.
• Leverage and implement Knowles best practices to accelerate operational excellence.
• Attract, engage, and develop top-tier talent to build a high-performing team.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in a technical or engineering discipline.
• 8- 10 years of proven experience in Manufacturing / Operations leadership, 5 years in a Plant Management role with a strong track record of performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in execution excellence and building a high-performance operations culture.
• Proven ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives across plant-wide operations.
• Skilled in developing and executing operational strategies that deliver measurable results.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with Knowles leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with experience leading factory teams through change and improvement.
• Experience in electrical or electronic component manufacturing (e.g., capacitors, semiconductors) is a strong advantage.
• Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma certification (belt level) is a plus.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is required

The annual salary for this role is: $200,000 - $240,000

#KPD

$200,000 - $240,000 annually