Plant Manager
American Excelsior Company · West Chicago, IL
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at American Excelsior Company (industrial) in West Chicago, IL.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree preferred
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $100k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 16 live postings that list pay, out of 31 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 30 other live production postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $100k–$150k, from 16 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 52%
- ✓ Team leadership 35%
- Six Sigma 29%
- 5S 29%
- EHS / safety 29%
- Root cause 26%
✓ = 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 American Excelsior Company
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?
- 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 American Excelsior CompanyAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Manages and develops department production managers and department leads in order to effectively oversee operations for delivering daily success with growth, safety, and continuous development mindset.
- ◆Reviews production costs and product quality and modifies production and inventory control programs to maintain and enhance profitable operation of divisions.
- ◆Partners with department production managers and/or production leads to develop and implement plans for efficient use of materials, machines, and employees.
- ◆Coordinates production, distribution, warehousing, and sales in accordance with American Excelsior Corporate policies, principles, and procedures.
- ◆Manages inventory levels of raw materials and partners with necessary parties for purchasing in accordance with American Excelsior Corporate policies, principles, and procedures.
- ◆Reviews operations and works with upper and subordinate management personnel to enhance American Excelsior Company operations.
- ◆Prepares budgets and production plans and shares with leadership team.
- ◆Leads efforts and accountability for maintaining a safe, productive, and positive work environment.
- ◆Responsible for managing and overseeing maintenance department, its activities, priorities, effectiveness, and success.
- ◆Completes annual performance reviews for direct reports.
- ◆Other duties as assigned.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Plant Manager
Department: Office
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: West Chicago, IL
Reporting To: John Godlewski
Description
The Plant Manager reports directly to the General Manager and oversees all aspects of manufacturing and daily plant function; this includes management of Production Managers, Shipping and Receiving, and Maintenance. In compliance with pay transparency laws for the state of Illinois, compensation for this position is $90,000.00+ commensurate with experience.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- •Preferred bachelor’s degree in leadership or management; minimum of a HS or GED with 5+ years of management supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
- •Take a hands-on approach to leadership.
- •Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business reports, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
- •Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and customary business documents.
- •Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
- •Fluency in English, both written and oral, is required.
- •Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- •Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical information.
- •Ability to read and understand Profit and Loss Statements, Budgets, and general Production planning information.
- •Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
- •Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Benefits
- •Competitive PTO
- •401(k) Match
- •Health, Life, Dental, and Vision insurance
- •Flexible Spending Account
- •On-the-job training
- •Opportunities for advancement
- •Employee Assistance Program
- •Referral Program
- •Employee Discount Program
- •Financial Wellness Program