Plant Manager

Job Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and daily operations of our pallet repair facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with a primary focus on supporting CHEP pallet programs and operations. This hands-on leadership role ensures pallets are safely and efficiently received, inspected, sorted, repaired, and prepared for shipment while meeting CHEP and company standards for safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost. The Plant Manager will lead supervisors, team leads, and hourly production employees; manage labor and production performance; drive continuous improvement; and ensure the facility consistently delivers strong operational and financial results. We are looking for an experienced operations leader who is comfortable spending time on the production floor, developing employees, solving problems, and driving accountability in a fast-paced pallet repair environment.

About the Company

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, PLA is a national supply chain solutions provider offering Pallet Management Services, 3PL Services, Reverse Logistics Services, and Freight Brokerage & Transportation Management Services, handling over 115 million pallets per year for over 1,500 customers. Now one of the largest pallet manufacturing and recycling companies in the United States, PLA has over 76 facilities, employing upwards of 3500 employees across 23 states, and is still looking for opportunities for growth, both organically and through acquisition.

Here's What We Offer:

• Daily Pay Option – Access your earnings before payday
• PTO (Paid Time Off) - unlimited plan 
• Full Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – 3 medical plan options through Blue Cross Blue Shield with low weekly premiums starting at $28.75
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – Company contribution up to $750 annually with tax-advantaged savings
• 401(k) retirement plan featuring up to a 4% employer match, eligibility the first of the month after 90 days, and access to a Financial Wellness Consultant.
• Flexible Benefits – Multiple plan options to fit your needs and budget
• Prescription Drug Coverage – Low copays starting at $10 for generic medications
• FREE Life Insurance & AD&D – Basic coverage provided at no cost upon employment
• Vision Benefits – $10 eye exams and $150 frame allowance through Superior Vision by MetLife starting at $1.46 per week
• Dental Coverage – 100% preventive care coverage with MetLife plans starting at $5.76 per week
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability (STD) – Income replacement up to 60% of weekly covered earnings (max $1,500 weekly) for a non-work-related injury or illness.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free and confidential support for work stress, grief, legal/financial issues, and more.
• Additional Voluntary Benefits – MetLife Legal and Identity Theft Services and Pet Insurance with ASPCA.
• LifeMart employee discounts (through ADP) on everyday stuff and larger purchases (travel, electronics, entertainment, and more)
• Dell Employee Purchase Program (EPP) discounts available for personal use.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the daily operations of a high-volume pallet sorting and repair facility supporting a major pallet pooling program. You will oversee receiving, sorting, repair, loading, and outbound shipments while ensuring production, safety, and quality standards are consistently met.
• Manage labor and production schedules to meet operational volume, turnaround time, and on-time delivery goals. Monitor key performance indicators such as productivity, throughput, downtime, scrap, and service levels while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, PPE requirements, and facility housekeeping standards. Conduct regular safety meetings, audits, and incident investigations to support a safe working environment.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, and hourly associates while building a culture of accountability, teamwork, and strong communication. Support hiring, onboarding, and performance management while keeping the team aligned with production goals and operational expectations.
• Ensure pallets are inspected, repaired, and sorted according to PECO and company quality standards while maintaining audit readiness. Address service or quality concerns quickly and implement root-cause solutions to prevent recurring issues.
• Manage operational costs including labor, repair materials, supplies, and equipment while improving productivity and reducing waste or rework. Lead continuous improvement initiatives such as workflow optimization, 5S, and other operational efficiency practices.
• Oversee maintenance of pallet repair equipment, forklifts, and facility infrastructure to ensure preventive maintenance is completed and production downtime is minimized.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a hands-on operations leader who can successfully manage a fast-paced industrial environment while building a strong, safety-focused team.

Required Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of leadership experience in pallet operations, lumber, warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, or similar industrial environments.
• Proven experience managing hourly teams in a production or operations setting.
• Strong knowledge of safety practices within warehouse or industrial operations.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve operational goals related to productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with basic computer systems including email, spreadsheets, and production or inventory systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working in pallet repair, pallet pooling programs (PECO, CHEP), or wood products operations.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing, 5S, or other continuous improvement practices.
• Experience managing operations that are measured by service, quality, and inventory performance metrics.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will primarily work in a warehouse environment. This may include exposure to dust, fluctuating temperatures (hot and cold), and moderate to high noise levels. Steel-toed boots and other personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required

PLA and its Family of Companies is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request by contacting hiring@plasolutions.com. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized because of such a request.