Plant General Manager

Who We Are 

AP Emissions Technologies provides aftermarket emissions and exhaust solutions for all vehicle classes. With nearly a century of innovation and integrated manufacturing expertise, AP delivers OEM-quality performance, regulatory compliance, and broad product coverage to customers worldwide. 

What You’ll Do 

As the Plant General Manager, you will serve as the on-site executive leader for AP Emissions Technologies' new 208,000-square-foot facility in Apex, North Carolina. You will lead the site's start-up, production ramp-up, and long-term operational performance across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, automation, supply chain, quality, logistics, EHS, and people development. 

This is a high-impact leadership role with end-to-end accountability for site performance, from facility commissioning and team development through customer-ready production and shipment. You will establish the operating foundation for a new manufacturing facility while building a high-performing team and delivering on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial objectives. 

Day-to-Day Responsibilities 

• Lead and develop cross-functional teams across production, engineering, maintenance, automation, supply chain, quality, logistics, and EHS  

• Establish organizational structure, clear accountability, performance expectations, and site governance  

• Build manufacturing career paths, succession plans, mentoring programs, and performance management practices  

• Establish a safety-first, continuous-improvement culture across all shifts  

• Lead manufacturing operations for cordierite ceramic substrate production, automated DPF/DOC/TWC catalyst coating, and automated substrate encapsulation  

• Develop and execute production, staffing, resource allocation, capacity, and ramp-up plans to meet customer demand  

• Own site performance across key metrics including output, OEE, on-time delivery, scrap, yield, conversion cost, inventory, and quality  

• Apply Lean and continuous-improvement methodologies to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce waste, and improve throughput  

• Partner with R&D and technical teams to transition products from laboratory and pilot stages into stable, scalable mass production  

• Lead engineering and maintenance strategy, including equipment lifecycle management, commissioning, capital projects, retrofits, and process improvements  

• Improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime across production assets and plant utilities  

• Partner with automation and process teams to stabilize manufacturing systems and establish standard work  

• Own site environmental, health, and safety performance and compliance with OSHA, North Carolina requirements, and corporate standards  

• Lead supply chain, inventory control, warehousing, material receipt, and finished-goods logistics  

• Mitigate supply risks associated with ceramics, washcoat materials, and precious-metal-related inputs  

• Own the site operating budget and financial performance across labor, energy, materials, overhead, and conversion costs  

• Lead cost-reduction, value engineering, yield improvement, and waste-reduction initiatives  

• Monitor performance against budget, identify variances, and communicate results, risks, and mitigation plans to the Division President  

• Serve as the primary site contact for regulators, authorities, key suppliers, and visiting OEM and industrial customers  

• Partner with division and technical leadership on capital projects, process scale-up, new product readiness, customer delivery, and quality initiatives  

Cross-Functional Partners 

• Division and corporate leadership  

• Production, engineering, maintenance, automation, and technical teams  

• Supply chain, logistics, and quality teams  

• R&D and product development  

• EHS and human resources  

• OEM and industrial customers  

• Key suppliers, regulators, and external partners  

Ownership 

• End-to-end operational and financial performance of the Apex facility  

• Plant start-up, production ramp-up, and long-term manufacturing performance  

• Safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance  

• Organizational development, talent management, and succession planning  

• Manufacturing capacity, equipment reliability, and operational readiness  

• Regulatory, environmental, and corporate compliance  

Project Work 

• Lead the commissioning and start-up of the new 208,000-square-foot manufacturing facility  

• Develop and execute production ramp-up and capacity expansion plans  

• Lead equipment commissioning, capital projects, retrofits, and process improvements  

• Support new product launches and transition products from pilot production to full-scale manufacturing  

• Implement Lean and continuous-improvement initiatives to improve yield, throughput, and cost  

• Develop and implement systems, processes, and standard work to support scalable plant operations  

What You’ll Need 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline required; MBA preferred  

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in U.S.-based heavy or advanced manufacturing  

• At least 5 years of experience as a Plant Manager or equivalent senior site leader  

• Demonstrated experience leading a greenfield or brownfield plant start-up and production ramp-up  

• Experience in chemical manufacturing, automotive components, emissions manufacturing, or a closely related industry  

• Experience leading large, cross-functional organizations spanning production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and EHS  

• Proven accountability for multimillion-dollar operating and capital budgets  

• Demonstrated success delivering improvements in cost, yield, productivity, and operational performance  

• Experience with automotive quality systems such as IATF 16949 and OEM manufacturing expectations preferred  

• Lean or Six Sigma certification, PMP, or other formal project-management credential preferred  

Technical Knowledge 

• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous-improvement methodologies  

• Deep understanding of high-volume, automated manufacturing environments  

• Working knowledge of manufacturing quality systems and automotive OEM expectations  

• Understanding of U.S. manufacturing regulations, OSHA requirements, and North Carolina environmental and safety requirements  

• Experience with ERP/MES systems, operational reporting, budgeting, and data analysis  

• Strong understanding of manufacturing engineering, automation, equipment reliability, and plant maintenance  

Hard Skills 

• Plant operations and manufacturing leadership  

• Greenfield/brownfield facility start-up and production ramp-up  

• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement  

• Budget and P&L management  

• Capital planning and project execution  

• Manufacturing engineering and automation  

• Supply chain and inventory management  

• Quality systems and regulatory compliance  

• Operational KPI management and data analysis  

• Talent development and organizational design  

Soft Skills 

• Strong business acumen and results-oriented mindset  

• Ability to build, develop, and inspire large, diverse manufacturing teams  

• Data-driven decision-making and sound operational judgment  

• Ability to balance safety, quality, delivery, and cost priorities  

• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills  

• Hands-on leadership style with a strong presence on the shop floor  

• Ability to make effective decisions in a fast-paced, ambiguous start-up environment  

• Strong collaboration skills across technical, operational, and corporate teams  

What You’ll Gain 

Impact & Contributions 

• Lead the launch and long-term success of a new 208,000-square-foot manufacturing facility  

• Build the organizational and operational foundation for a significant new manufacturing operation  

• Directly influence safety, quality, productivity, customer delivery, and financial performance  

• Play a key leadership role in the continued growth of AP Emissions Technologies  

Career Growth 

• Executive-level visibility within AP Emissions Technologies and Marmon Holdings  

• Opportunity to build and lead a large, multidisciplinary manufacturing organization  

• Exposure to advanced manufacturing, automation, emissions technology, and new product development  

• Opportunities to influence broader operational strategy and continuous improvement  

Benefits & Culture 

• Competitive compensation and benefits  

• Collaborative, hands-on leadership environment  

• Opportunities for professional growth and development  

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a growing global organization  

Work Environment & Travel 

This role is based on-site in Apex, North Carolina, with regular shop-floor presence across shifts. Occasional domestic travel may be required.