As the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, H.B. Fuller’s (NYSE: FUL) innovative, functional coatings, adhesives and sealants enhance the quality, safety and performance of products people use every day. Founded in 1887, with 2023 revenue of $3.5 billion, our mission to Connect What Matters is brought to life by more than 7,000 global team members who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140 countries to develop highly specified solutions that enable customers to bring world-changing innovations to their end markets.

H.B. Fuller’s Engineering Adhesives segment develops adhesive solutions for the automotive and aerospace, wood and composite, electronics and energy, glass, durable assembly, and bus, truck, rail and recreational vehicle industries. As these dynamic markets continue to change, and consumers demand lighter, safer, greener and more reliable products, we partner with our customers to deliver highly engineered solutions.

The Plant Manager reports to the North America Operations Director and is responsible for the South Bend, IN operations, and has direct and indirect responsibility over employees in the plant. The incumbent is responsible for serving the customer by creating and maintaining a clean, safe, highly productive plant, while making the most efficient and cost-conscious use of the equipment, materials, and employees to produce high quality products on first pass production runs. This individual needs to seek solutions that strengthen quality, value, service, and effectiveness. Respectfully challenge the way "things are done,” and support others in doing so and manage change effectively.

The Plant Manager will work with the management team to make H.B. Fuller a great place to work, where employees are engaged and have the opportunity for career growth. The position is responsible for developing and gaining support for both the operating and capital budgets and will have direct control over the operating budget and facility capital projects that drive improvements. They will drive continuous improvement efforts and achievement of plant goals and objectives.  This position will work closely with division and regional labs, engineering, and sourcing to effectively introduce new products and processes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Vigorously enforce safe manufacturing practices and ensure compliance with all-application safety and environmental rules, regulations and procedures.

• Set and maintain standards that ensure on-time delivery of quality products that meet customer needs.

• Control costs through close management of the operational and capital budgets and by identifying, prioritizing and pursuing continuous improvement projects.

• Determine facility headcount required and manage planning and approvals, guide management team in recruiting, hiring, development and termination activities to meet business needs.

• Manage the managers in the plant, groom and mentor potential successors for plant and operations leadership roles across the network.

• Maintain performance excellence by holding the team accountable for both rewarding results and managing employees who do not meet performance expectations.  Ensure timely and data driven corrective action with problem products, marshaling the facility and business unit technical resources.

• Provide innovative solutions to customer issues by leading collaborative efforts to address all issues.  Hear and leverage the ideas of others to prioritize, create and deliver innovative solutions.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with commercial, marketing, operations, supply chain, HR, Finance and R&D partners.  Facilitate collaborative teamwork within the facility and with external partners.  Manage stakeholder expectations. Prioritize work to effectively focus on critical items and deliver quality results by deadline.

• Support new product introduction / scale-up and raw material acquisitions via change management processes.

• Hear and address employee problems and concerns appropriately in partnership with management team and HR.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

• 10+ years of progressive operations management and with proven track record of success

• Prior experience demonstrating success in leading facility improvements across multiple disciplines.

• Effectively engage employees at all levels in a positive manner that fosters team building and community and help identify succession plans for high potential employees.

• Effective, strong communications and analytical skills

• Experience maintaining a safety culture, and developing programs related to EHS.

• Prior experience with ISO, Standard Work, and Zero-Defect methodologies

Preferred Requirements

• MBA

• Process Safety Management experience.

• Experience leading in a union environment.

• Expertise in SAP or similar ERP database management systems.

• Process control experience.

• Quality control experience.

• Some knowledge of the chemistry involved in the manufacturing of the products at the specific site.

• Six Sigma certification, Green or Black Belt, experience in design for Six Sigma DFSS.

• Exposure to applications using continuous improvement techniques; TQM, Problem Solving DMAIC, Fault Tree Analysis, FMEA’s, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Value Stream mapping and etc.

• Adhesives experience

• Demonstrates Business Acumen and Business Agility. Knows the specifics of the business. Engages in effective operational and strategic planning. 

This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship. Applicants must have U.S. work authorization that does not now or in the future require H.B. Fuller sponsorship of a work visa to work for H.B. Fuller.

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, and geographic location.

In addition to your salary, H.B. Fuller offers employees a competitive total rewards package including comprehensive benefits, incentive and recognitions programs, health & wellness benefits, 401K contributions, paid time off and paid holidays. Eligibility may vary.

H.B. Fuller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and proud to have created a collaborative culture where employees around the world are seen, heard, and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or marital status or status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected classification.

H.B. Fuller does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with H.B. Fuller, a written service agreement must be executed by Human Resources prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed service agreement, H.B. Fuller shall not be obligated for payment of any fee or compensation.