Plant Manager
Advanced Drainage Systems · Naperville, IL
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Advanced Drainage Systems (industrial) in Naperville, IL. In this role, you will oversee plant operations, ensuring safety, driving production, and collaborating with various departments to achieve business objectives.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, EHS / safety
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $101k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 29 live postings that list pay, out of 50 production engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 49 other live production postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 7+)
Typical $100k–$147k, from 26 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 48%
- Team leadership 32%
- Root cause 30%
- ✓ EHS / safety 28%
- Six Sigma 26%
- New product launch 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Advanced Drainage Systems
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from Advanced Drainage SystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
We are looking for a Plant Manager to join our team! In this role, you will oversee plant operations, ensuring safety, driving production, and collaborating with various departments to achieve business objectives. If you are passionate about manufacturing operations, we would love to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Champion a safe work environment by leading initiatives that embed a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and corporate standards.
- ◆Drive plant performance across safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, and employee retention metrics.
- ◆Lead and sustain continuous improvement efforts using Lean principles and data-driven problem-solving to eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency.
- ◆Promote a culture of discipline, consistency, and accountability by reinforcing standardized processes and work practices.
- ◆Manage staffing levels, succession planning, and talent development to align with production needs and build leadership capability across all shifts.
- ◆Coach, mentor, and engage frontline leaders to strengthen decision-making and team performance.
- ◆Support company’s culture statement by fostering employee engagement strategies to reduce turnover, improve morale, and sustain productivity.
- ◆Translate corporate and regional strategies into actionable plant-level objectives, leveraging technology, data, and CI tools to achieve sustained KPI improvements safely.
- ◆Oversee inventory control, materials management, and fulfillment accuracy to support production goals and superior customer service.
- ◆Develop, manage, and adjust the operational budget in response to changing business demands and market conditions.
- ◆Build strong cross-functional relationships with EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to align operational plans, schedules, and priorities.
- ◆Communicate plant performance clearly and consistently to employees, peers, and leadership to ensure transparency and shared accountability.
- ◆Participate in regional initiatives and enterprise projects that support manufacturing excellence and align plant objectives with broader corporate priorities.
- ◆Engage with local organizations, schools, and events to build meaningful community relationships that enhance ADS brand visibility and position the plant as a preferred local employer.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's Degree or significant manufacturing and management experience.
- ✓10+ years of managerial experience in a production environment.
- ✓Proven leadership and interpersonal skills.
- ✓Strong operational skills and knowledge of lean business practices.
- ✓Ability to drive results in a fast-paced environment.
- ✓Excellent communication skills.
- ✓Ability to work as a team leader/member with diverse groups.
- ✓Regularly required to sit, stand, reach, bend, and move about the facility.
- ✓Occasionally lift and move up to 25 lbs.
- ✓Travel – 10%.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Overview
Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading manufacturer of stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions, committed to sustainability and innovation. With a vast manufacturing and distribution network, we deliver high-quality products across multiple industries while recycling over half a billion pounds of plastic annually. At ADS, we foster a culture where diverse perspectives drive better ideas, ensuring every employee feels valued, heard, and empowered to make an impact.
Skills & Competencies
- •Leadership and interpersonal skills.
- •Operational and organizational skills.
- •Knowledge of lean business practices.
- •Ability to coach and develop team members.
- •Strong communication skills.
Company Benefits
Health & Welfare Benefits: Medical and prescription drug plans, telemedicine (with medical plan), High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA), dental and vision plans, virtual physical therapy*, an employee assistance program (EAP)*, and voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnification programs.
Financial Benefits: Retirement 401k program with company match, an employee stock purchase plan (voluntary), financial wellness planning*, paid parental leave*, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for child care and health care, short-term and long-term disability*, basic life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)*, adoption financial reimbursement*, tuition reimbursement*, voluntary life insurance (for employees, spouses, and children), and voluntary identity theft and fraud protection.
- •100% paid by ADS.
Why Join ADS?
Growth Opportunities & Global Presence: With a global network of approximately 70 manufacturing plants and 40 distribution centers, ADS offers extensive opportunities for career growth and development in various locations around the world.
Inclusive and Creative Work Culture: ADS fosters a culture of passion, innovation, and continuous improvement, empowering employees to shape industry-leading solutions. We value diverse perspectives, recognizing that they drive better ideas, processes, and performance. Our workplace is built on respect, inclusivity, and shared responsibility, ensuring every team member feels valued and contributes to our collective success.
Innovative & Sustainability Focused: Advanced Drainage Systems is one of the largest plastic recyclers in North America, ensuring over half a billion pounds of plastic is kept out of landfills every year.
Learn More: https://www.adspipe.com/about-us
EEO Statement