Plant Manager

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.

The Plant Manager reports to the Building Adhesives Solutions (BAS) VP of Global Operations and Supply Chain and has primary responsibility for the Maple Grove, MN and Fridley, MN sites.  This position will also be the owner of the customer complaint process and resolution in the region. 

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading the Maple Grove and Fridley team to attain a “Best-in-class” Safety, Continuous Improvement and Operational Discipline culture.  Success will be achieved when every employee has a singular focus on meeting customer requirements and working in a system of prevention each day. This position will also work with the other plant managers, regional and global roles to design, implement and maintain local systems and processes to raise the Maple Grove and Fridley to best-in-class levels for the adhesives business.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Site Production Managers, Site Engineers, and a Maintenance Manager and Warehouse Manager

• Understand, apply and drive safety as a value.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, health and environmental procedures, regulations, and rules.

• Lead and drive continuous improvement in housekeeping and 5S.

• Develop and mentor plant leadership and field experts to ensure a best-in-class and engaged workforce is built and maintained.

• Create and implement vision for the Maple Grove and Fridley sites in alignment with HB Fuller’s overall vision.

• Develop and execute organizational strategy for the Maple Grove and Fridley sites in alignment with HB Fuller’s strategic priorities.

• Ensure effective management systems are utilized to manage and measure Maple Grove and Fridley site performance.

• 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.

• 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.

• Financial responsibilities for the related cost centers. Include T&E budget, capital budgeting and expenditures for plant-related costs.

Minimum Requirements

• BS in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering.

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

• Demonstrated expertise in managing significant change within a manufacturing operating environment.

• Demonstrated success in organizational development and team building.

• Analytical interpretation and advanced problem-solving skills - able to prioritize and align the organization on priorities with an ability to bring successful closure to the defined goals.

• Demonstrated track record of successfully driving change management.

• Proactive, effective coach, communicator and collaborator with team, peers, senior leaders, and external partners.

• Ability to escalate and/or address conflicts/disagreements effectively.

• Fluent in English.

Preferred Requirements

• MBA

• Process Safety Management experience.

• Knowledge of SAP or similar ERP database management systems.

• Six Sigma certification, (Green or Black Belt).

• Exposure to applications using continuous improvement techniques; TQM, Problem Solving DMAIC, Fault Tree Analysis, FMEAs, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Value Stream mapping

• Experience in distribution & warehouse operations.

• Experience leading in a union environment.

• Ability to speak Spanish.

This position