Job Description

About Decora Powder Coatings Ltd.

With over 35 years of industry expertise, Decora Powder Coatings Ltd. leads in powder coating and material manufacturing. Our dedication to quality, innovation, and exceptional customer service drives everything we do. We cultivate a work environment focused on quality, safety, and competitive pricing, valuing teamwork and each employee's role in our collective success.

Job Summary

We are seeking a proven leader to oversee our powder coating operations and drive the highest standards of production excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction.

The Plant Manager will oversee daily operations of our horizontal powder coating line, ensuring efficient production, uncompromising safety, and world-class quality. This role requires a strategic, metrics-driven leader with the ability to inspire teams, optimize workflows, and champion continuous improvement in line with ISO 9001:2015 and industry benchmarks.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership:
- Lead all plant operations, including pre-treatment, powder application, curing, inspection, and packaging.
- Develop and execute production schedules to maximize throughput and on-time delivery performance.
- Align operations with company goals through close coordination with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and HR.

Quality Management:
- Ensure products consistently meet or exceed Qualicoat and ISO 9001:2015 standards.
- Oversee Quality Management System implementation and corrective action processes.
- Drive defect reduction initiatives, ensuring a coating defect rate of <1% per batch.

Safety & Compliance:
- Ensure full compliance with Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and internal safety standards.
- Promote a proactive safety culture through training, audits, and incident-prevention strategies.

Financial & Resource Management:
- Reduce waste and downtime through lean manufacturing and process improvement initiatives.
- Oversee procurement and inventory management of powders, chemicals, and consumables.

Team Leadership:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a workforce of 50+ employees, including supervisors across production, quality, and maintenance.
- Build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
- Conduct performance reviews, succession planning, and workforce development strategies.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation:
- Implement lean manufacturing and Six Sigma practices to boost productivity and reduce costs.

Preventative Maintenance

- Establish and execute a preventative maintenance schedule covering all key equipment, including ovens, spray booths, conveyors, compressors, curing systems, and recovery units.

- Conduct regular inspections to assess wear and tear, verify alignment, and ensure proper operation of mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.

- Maintain detailed maintenance logs to support compliance, traceability, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
- Master's degree or MBA preferred.

Experience:
- Minimum 7 years in manufacturing leadership, with at least 3+ years in powder coating, paint, or surface finishing operations.
- Demonstrated expertise in ISO 9001:2015 and Qualicoat standards.
- Proven track record in lean manufacturing, cost optimization, and safety management.

Skills:
- Strong leadership and communication skills with ability to lead cross-functional teams.
- Technical expertise in powder coating processes, equipment, and maintenance.
- Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.

Performance Metrics

- Production: Achieve >95% on-time delivery rate.
- Quality: Maintain <1% defect rate per batch.
- Safety: Zero lost-time incidents per quarter.
- Efficiency: Reduce downtime by 5% annually through proactive maintenance.
- Employee Engagement: 100% completion of training within 60 days of hire.

Preferred Certifications

- ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor.
- Qualicoat Certification.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt.
- OHSA certification or equivalent.

Working Conditions

Location:
Building C - 24 Benfield Drive, St. Catharine's, Ontario L2S 3V5

Hours: Full-time, 40-50 hours per week. Occasional weekends or extended hours based on project and production demands.

Travel: Minimal, with potential supplier and auditor visits.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to hr@decorapowdercoatings.com with the email subject line: "Plant Manager Application

". HR will then reach out to you to fill out an application form. Applications that do not follow this subject-line instruction may not be considered for the interview process.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00-$95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental care Life insurance On-site parking Paid time off Vision care
Ability to commute/relocate:

St. Catharines, ON L2S 3V5: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:

Bachelor's Degree (required)
Experience:

Manufacturing: 7 years (required) Powder Coating Operations: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:

Six Sigma Green Belt (preferred)
Work Location: In person