How to hire a plant general manager

How to hire a plant general manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step plant general manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a plant general manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new plant general manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the plant general manager you need to hire. Certain plant general manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A plant general manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, plant general managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of plant general managers.

   Type of Plant General Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant General Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$34-93
   Business Unit Manager	A business unit manager handles a unit or segment of the company. This unit may be a specialized team on specific projects or a part of a significant production process... Show more	$38-88
   Division Manager	Division managers supervise a section of the company and are responsible for that division's success. General duties include organizing, planning, allocating resources, and managing the daily operations of the sector... Show more	$24-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • Product Quality
   • Safety Program
   • Plant Operations
   • OSHA
   • R
   • Financial Performance
   • Customer Service
   • Direct Reports
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Process Improvement
   • ISO
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • KPI

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage this facility-supplying FDA regulate delivery systems and resins for pharmaceutical, industrial, and hospital applications.
   • Manage the design and implementation of GMP and packaging process to improve productivity, quality and profitability.
   • Work closely with, sales, customer service, engineering and QA, and technical support on all new customer proposals.
   • Garner error-free FDA regulatory audit results by implementing new quality programs and establishing quality tracking metrics and departmental reward system.
   • Create new intellectual property product offerings including ROI measurement for key learning initiatives, and launch consulting division to increase revenue.
   • Process controls - revamp operations and institute process controls for electrode mfg.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your plant general manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A plant general manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, plant general managers' average salary in hawaii is 70% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant general managers earn 63% less than senior-level plant general managers.
   • Certifications. A plant general manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a plant general manager's salary.

   Average plant general manager salary

   $118,157yearly

   $56.81 hourly rate

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   Entry-level plant general manager salary

   $71,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a plant general manager job description

   A plant general manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a plant general manager job description:

   Plant general manager job description example

   Building a career at Granite may be the most valuable thing you could do...
   Are you interested in the opportunity to work for an industry-leading company that will give you the experience and exposure you need to build your career and personal brand? If so, then you've come to the right place!
   
   General Summary
   This position is responsible for providing leadership, oversight and strategic direction to the Plant Manager (s), Plant Administration, and others to ensure long-term Company profitability. Profit and Loss responsibility for 5 Asphalt Plants and 7 Aggregate/Recycle facilities.
   
   Essential Job Accountabilities
   Oversee the entire Construction Materials Business in the region to ensure that strategic growth activities for the materials business are in alignment with and supported by corporate and Group management.Work with Regional Vice President and Group Materials Manager to identify and analyze current and future construction materials growth opportunities to ensure long-term profitability goals are met. Build and maintain a culture of operational efficiency and strategic alliances with customers, vendors, and subcontractors to ensure the team's best in class execution and delivery in its construction materials business. Partner with the Quality Department to ensure best in class quality performance on all production and sales. Authorize/approve all materials related personnel transactions (hiring, transfers, wages, etc.), purchase requisitions and change requests to ensure corporate/business unit objectives are reached. Consult on union issues and assist in jurisdictional disputes and negotiations when needed to ensure Granite's best interests. Monitor all company, client, and project policies and procedures to ensure Granite's core values are maintained. Coordinate liquid asphalt purchasing and asphalt strategic alliances working with the Asphalt and Energy Group to ensure maximum value to Granite. Coordinate the recruiting, staffing, and development of our materials personnel to ensure strategic objectives are met. Assist with implementation/interpretation of safety programs to ensure a safe work environment.
   Education
   Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or equivalent experience in Plants and Materials.
   Work Experience
   Minimum 10 years' experience.
   Knowledge, skills, and abilities
   Knowledge and experience with Hot Mix Asphalt Plants and Aggregate Plants preferred.Thorough knowledge of all aspect of materials (technology, equipment, methods, quality), company policies, procedures and standards; and union jurisdiction, labor agreements, negotiations essential.Excellent communication, organizational, supervisory, and planning skills required.Proficiency with all MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), JWS, and other materials/plants software.
   Physical Demands
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to operate a computer keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   Additional Requirements/Skills
   Team player Ability and willingness to abide by Granite's Code of ConductValid driver's license #LI-ML1
   
   About Granite Construction IncorporatedGranite Construction Incorporated is a member of the S&P 400 Index and is the parent company of Granite Construction Company, one of the nation's largest heavy civil contractors and construction materials producers. Granite Construction is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities and a Drug-Free Workplace. For additional information on applicant/employee rights please click here.Notice to Staffing AgenciesGranite Construction, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Granite") will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Granite, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Granite mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Granite employees, or to Granite's resume database will be considered Granite property. Granite will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Granite will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Granite's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Granite will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Granite's Human Resources Representative or his/ her designee. No other Granite employee is authorized to bind Granite to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right plant general manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with plant general managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit plant general managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your plant general manager job on Zippia to find and recruit plant general manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit plant general managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new plant general manager

   Once you've selected the best plant general manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new plant general manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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