Plant Manager - RP
Oil-Dri Corporation of America · Ripley, MS
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 15+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Oil-Dri Corporation of America (industrial) in Ripley, MS. Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty sorbent products for consumer and business-to-business markets.
- They ask for
- 15+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Capacity planning
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $116k–$158k.
Median of the low and high ends of 241 live postings that list pay, out of 787 production engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Mississippi plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 7 other live production postings in Mississippi.
- Experience asked
- More than usual (15+ vs 6+)
Similar roles usually ask 6+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 63%
- ✓ Lean 50%
- EHS / safety 50%
- Six Sigma 38%
- 5S 25%
- Root cause 25%
✓ = 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 Oil-Dri Corporation of America
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 Oil-Dri Corporation of AmericaAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Planning
- ◆Reviews and oversees implementation of annual operating plan for plant. These include staffing; raw material, procurement, production, and inventory planning, in conjunction with materials planning and procurement groups.
- ◆Recommends capital projects. (Annual capital plan of $1 to $4 million.)
- ◆Reviews and signs off on annual financial operating budget. (Annual budget of $10 to $15 million.)
- ◆Participates in strategic planning process, translating manufacturing objectives to individual goals for key plant teammates.
- ◆People
- ◆Builds and leads a team to execute the operational and financial plans, including department managers as well as staff to support plant.
- ◆Leads plant-wide initiatives to ensure positive teammate morale. Communicates vision, direction of company and manufacturing to all teammates.
- ◆Leads Plant Continuous Improvement efforts (Lean etc.) – focused on Cost Reduction, Capacity improvement etc.
- ◆Using CI to develop an empowered and capable workforce.
- ◆Conducts performance evaluation of direct reports, while reviewing and signing off on one-over-one teammate, directing all to expand their skills and responsibilities.
- ◆Modifies and approves all goals of direct reports.
- ◆Hires, promotes, and fires plant personnel based on opportunities and performance.
- ◆Leads training initiatives for plant teammates, working with staff and corporate support.
- ◆Financial
- ◆Reviews and reports on plant financial performance monthly.
- ◆Leads action plan to address plant issues.
- ◆Approves expenditures for all capital projects for the plants.
- ◆Approves all plant expenditures in accordance with approval policy.
- ◆Quality
- ◆Drives culture of alignment to Oil-Dri’s safety, environmental and quality policies.
- ◆Works with SHEQ director to lead quality initiatives, in line with strategic plan.
- ◆Aligns Plant Quality improvement efforts with Consumer/Customer relevant Quality failures.
- ◆Safety
- ◆Ensures that safety procedures are in place to address all aspects of plant safety.
- ◆Ensures that all personnel on the premises (visitors as well as teammates) understand and follow all safety procedures.
- ◆Leads organization in addressing both Condition and Behavior based Safety concerns.
- ◆Environmental/Regulatory
- ◆Assures that the plants are fully compliant with all local, state, and federal regulations with respect to environmental compliance. This pertains to all operational aspects as well as capital expansions.
- ◆Works with SHEQ team to get this done. Reports any variation immediately to Regional Manufacturing Manager, VP of Manufacturing and SHEQ director.
- ◆Operational
- ◆Reviews plant capacity capabilities used in capacity planning, as well as forecast business requirements. Assures that any circumstances where planned customer
requirements
of operational plan cannot be fulfilled over the long term (1 to 6 months) are communicated to S&OP team.
- ✓Coordinates review of plant processes (between engineering and plant management) and assures process modifications or improvements that result in improved efficiency are implemented.
- ✓Works with Material Planning and Logistics to recommend business shifts between plants or regions to optimize service and cost to customers.
- ✓Delivers Plant efficiency improvements (% TEEP) in both Processing and Packaging, along with Direct Labor reductions in key areas.
- ✓Maintenance/Housekeeping
- ✓Leads organizational and cultural change to transform Maintenance approach to Preventive/Predicative approach.
- ✓Directs housekeeping program.
- ✓Approves expenditure of all maintenance costs in line with expense approval policy.
- ✓Raw Material Procurement
- ✓Approves mining and reclamation plan. Ensures that it is adhered to.
- ✓Assures that communication occurs to VP of Global Infrastructure on any production shortfalls or regulatory concerns associated with clay mining.
- ✓Other
- ✓Assists Marketing, Logistics, and Research on evaluating new business opportunities, including assessing process feasibility, cost, capital
requirements
and other issues.
- ✓Meets with management in other areas of the company. Shares and adopts best practices.
Qualifications
- ✓Education
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline required.
- ✓Minimum 15 years manufacturing experience.
- ✓Minimum 5 years managerial experience with responsibility over multiple functional areas.
- ✓Skills & Abilities
- ✓JDE or other large ERP software experience preferred.
- ✓Knowledge of industrial processing required. Plusses include industrial mineral experience as well as mining and clay mineralogy.
- ✓Knowledge or automated packaging equipment, Lean, and Preventative Maintenance systems preferred.
- ✓Strong commitment to workplace safety and company values
- ✓Strong ability to lead and develop people and teams.
- ✓Strategic thinking, with the ability to translate strategy into executable tactical plans.
- ✓Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and application of products manufactured at this site.
- ✓Familiarity with quality principles and tools.
- ✓Team player fully capable of working with different functions in the best interest of the overall team.
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Overview
Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty sorbent products for consumer and business-to-business markets. Oil-Dri’s products are sold in the pet care, animal health, fluids purification, agricultural, sports field, industrial and automotive markets. Oil-Dri controls millions of tons of specialty mineral reserves, including calcium bentonite, attapulgite, and diatomaceous shale. The company’s mines and manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, and California. Oil-Dri is a family-controlled and operated organization that emphasizes honesty, integrity, and accountability. The company is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to Create Value From Sorbent Minerals.
Position
Plant Manager - RP role
