Plant Manager - Railcar Repair Shop

UTLX

As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.

The Plant Manager provides overall leadership for plant operations and is responsible for fostering a respectful, purpose-driven, and high-performing culture. This role champions safety, regulatory compliance, quality, productivity, employee development, and continuous improvement while ensuring the consistent flow of railcars at planned production rates. The Plant Manager is accountable for delivering high-quality, cost-effective repairs that meet customer requirements and company production objectives, while maintaining full compliance with regulatory, safety, quality, environmental, and company standards. Through a focus on operational excellence, this role drives performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement to meet customer expectations for quality, delivery, and service.

Primary responsibilities and/or essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Lead all plant operations to achieve production, quality, safety, customer service, and financial objectives while fostering a respectful, inclusive, purpose-driven, and high-performing culture.
• Provide visible leadership throughout the facility by conducting routine plant walk-throughs, engaging employees across all shifts, participating in toolbox meetings, and maintaining strong working relationships with hourly and salaried employees.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, safety, environmental, quality, and company requirements through active oversight, risk identification, corrective action management, and reinforcement of safe work practices.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of industry regulations and ensure continuous compliance with all regulatory and customer requirements.
• Oversee railcar repair operations and workflow to ensure proper railcar placement, efficient production flow, high-quality repairs, adherence to production schedules, and achievement of customer delivery commitments.
• Drive operational excellence by monitoring production performance, takt times, labor utilization, cycle times, repair efficiency, and plant KPIs, while proactively removing barriers to performance.
• Lead daily management processes through Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 systems, including review of safety, quality, productivity, manpower, cost performance, and accountability actions.
• Monitor and verify repair quality through plant observations, inspections, and spot checks to ensure customer, regulatory, and company standards are consistently met.
• Review and analyze operational and financial performance metrics, including production results, overtime, labor utilization, work-in-process (WIP), repair efficiency, cost variance, indirect labor, and aging railcar reports, and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Ensure contract reviews are completed accurately and that all customer, operational, and commercial requirements are effectively executed.
• Develop, implement, and maintain scalable operating processes, staffing models, and infrastructure capable of supporting changing production demands and business objectives.
• Oversee preventive maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and minimal production disruption.
• Lead capital planning and facility improvement initiatives that support long-term operational performance, growth, and competitiveness.
• Drive achievement of all plant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through effective planning, execution, accountability, and performance management.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, waste reduction, process standardization, and sustainable performance improvements.
• Utilize operational data, trend analysis, and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities, solve problems, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead the development, execution, and review of facility A3 and other continuous improvement plans, ensuring accountability for results and alignment with organizational goals.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and empower employees at all levels while creating an environment that supports engagement, teamwork, and professional growth.
• Establish clear goals, expectations, and accountability measures for leaders and employees and provide ongoing coaching and performance feedback.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance evaluations, and development discussions with direct reports and salaried employees to support individual and organizational success.
• Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, employee engagement, retention strategies, succession planning, talent development, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop succession plans for key leadership and operational positions to ensure business continuity and long-term organizational capability.
• Communicate plant performance, priorities, accomplishments, challenges, and improvement initiatives effectively to employees, leadership, customers, and other stakeholders through meetings, town halls, and regular reporting.
• Maintain accountability for plant results by assigning ownership of action items, monitoring follow-through, recognizing successes, and ensuring achievement of safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people objectives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Plant Manager is accountable for achieving performance targets in the following areas:

Safety

• Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)
• Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred Rate (DART)
• Safety compliance and incident prevention

Quality

• Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) per 1,000 railcars
• Regulatory and customer quality compliance

People

• Employee turnover rate
• Employee engagement and survey results
• Employee development and succession readiness

Operational Performance

• Cars Released Per Day
• Shop Turnaround Time (average days from receipt to shipment)
• Shop Residency (average days cars remain onsite)
• Labor Utilization (billed hours divided by total hourly labor hours)
• Repair efficiency metrics
• Work-in-Process (WIP) performance

Financial Performance

• Period Overhead Cost Percentage
• Car Cost Variance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Industrial Management, Engineering, or a related field required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of Plant Manager experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or production environment.
• Extensive rail industry leadership experience may be considered in lieu of formal education requirements.
• Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to interpret blueprints, production drawings, and technical specifications while planning efficient work processes.
• Knowledge of applicable industry regulations, equipment, and operational practices.
• Strong understanding of business and management principles.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• High level of accuracy, accountability, and attention to detail.
• Proven leadership, team-building, and employee development capabilities.
• Ability to effectively lead in a fast-paced production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in railroad, tank car repair, heavy industrial manufacturing, or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of AAR, DOT, and FRA regulations and compliance requirements.
• Understanding of tank car construction, components, repair methods, and applicable regulations.
• Demonstrated success implementing safety, quality, or process improvement initiatives.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience preferred.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Work is performed primarily in an industrial railcar repair and manufacturing environment.
• Regular exposure to outdoor weather conditions, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, heat, noise, and other environmental factors.
• Requires moderate to heavy physical activity, including lifting, climbing, working at heights, and entering confined spaces.
• Must be able to enter tank cars through 20-inch manway openings.
• Requires manual dexterity and physical coordination for operation of tools and equipment.
• Potential exposure to hazardous materials from leaks or spills.
• Must adhere to all PPE requirements and established safety procedures.
• Travel for training and business meetings approximately 1–2 times per year.
• This is an on-site position requiring five days per week in the facility, with availability to work off-shift hours, overtime, and weekends as business needs dictate.

Disclaimer

Please note the duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

It is the policy of Union Tank Car Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons, and to recruit, hire, train, promote, and compensate persons in all jobs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation, gender identify, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic protected by the law. 

Why Join Our Team?

We take pride in offering our employees rich benefits packages. We appreciate hard-working and passionate individuals which is why we offer...

• Tuition reimbursement program
• Medical, dental, vision
• Company-paid employee and dependent life insurance
• Company-paid STD & LTD
• 401k with generous company match 
• Annual safety shoe reimbursement
• 4 Week Paid Parental Leave
• Holiday pay
• Paid Vacation
• Marmon employee discount program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Program

Pay Range:

122,760.00 - 150,040.00

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, and more!

Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to [email protected], and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.