Plant Manager I
Xylem
Rockford, IL · Posted November 4, 2026
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Where Rockford, IL ranks
Where Rockford, IL placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for junior jobs in Illinois39% · of 17
- #7Best college towns for junior jobs in the Great Lakes41% · of 39
- #8Best cities for junior jobs in the Great Lakes39% · of 53
- #10Best college towns for junior jobs in the Midwest41% · of 51
- #10Best cities for junior jobs in the Midwest39% · of 69
- #14Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes17% · of 39
Rankings about operations jobs
- Best cities for operations jobs #1 New York (1,429 openings)
- Best cities for operations pay after cost of living #1 Reston ($177k)
- Most requested AI skills in operations jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (2.5%)
- AI tools named most often in operations jobs #1 Claude (0.28%)
- Employers with the most operations jobs #1 Amazon (1,480 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among industrial production managers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for industrial production managers: 1% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
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About the job
Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Responsibilities:
Safety and Compliance • Champion a safety-first culture by setting clear expectations, modeling safe behaviors, and ensuring employees understand and follow all safety requirements. • Ensure compliance with applicable safety regulations, company protocols, industry standards, and site procedures. • Conduct regular safety inspections, address hazards promptly, and implement corrective actions to continuously improve workplace safety. • Partner closely with EHS, quality, and operations teams to strengthen safety practices, compliance processes, and employee awareness. • Maintain accurate safety and compliance documentation and ensure required training is completed and reinforced.
Team Management • Lead, coach, and develop a production team by providing clear direction, regular feedback, and meaningful support. • Set expectations, goals, and KPIs for team members and monitor performance against safety, quality, productivity, and engagement objectives. • Foster a positive, accountable, and collaborative work environment where employees are empowered to contribute ideas and solve problems. • Identify training and development opportunities to build team capability, strengthen bench strength, and support continuous learning. • Promote open communication, employee engagement, and a culture of ownership across the production team.
Planning and Organizing • Review, approve and modify production schedules and timelines to support business priorities and customer commitments. • Coordinate with cross-functional partners to ensure timely completion of tasks and alignment across departments. • Monitor and adjust production processes to meet deadlines, improve flow, reduce cost improve overall safety • Develop and implement efficient production strategies that support safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. • Ensure effective allocation of resources, materials, and equipment to support production goals.
Quality Control • Reinforce quality standards for production processes and finished products. • Conduct regular inspections to ensure products meet required specifications and customer expectations. • Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues that may affect product quality or operational performance. • Implement corrective actions to improve quality, reduce variation, and increase efficiency. • Collaborate with the quality team to address concerns and drive sustainable improvements.
Budget and Cost Management • Develop and manage the production budget in alignment with business objectives. • Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining safety, quality, and reliability standards. • Monitor and control production expenses, escalating risks and opportunities as appropriate. • Partner with suppliers and vendors to support competitive pricing, service levels, and operational needs. • Analyze production costs and recommend improvements that support productivity and financial performance.
Communication and Reporting • Communicate production updates, priorities, risks, and progress to senior leadership and key stakeholders. • Prepare and present reports on production metrics, safety performance, quality results, and operational trends. • Facilitate effective communication between departments involved in production planning and execution. • Address production-related issues with urgency, sound judgment, and practical solutions. • Implement communication strategies that improve alignment, accountability, and operational efficiency.
High Impact Behaviors: • Strategic Decision Making: A manager must be able to assess complex situations, consider long-term implications, and make decisions that align with the organization’s vision and goals. This involves critical thinking, foresight, and the ability to balance various stakeholders’ interests. • Effective Communication: Clear and transparent communication is vital for a manager. This includes articulating vision, expectations, and feedback in a way that motivates and engages team members. It also involves active listening and openness to input from all levels of the organization. • Fostering Team Growth: A high impact manager invests in the development of their team members. This behavior includes mentoring, providing opportunities for professional growth, and creating an environment where continuous learning is encouraged and valued.
Qualifications: • Bachelor’s in engineering, preferably Chemical, Mechanical or Industrial, or a related field, with at least 5 years of relevant experience and 5+ years of people management experience, or equivalent work experience that provides exposure to fundamental theories, principles, and concepts. • Background in quality control, continuous improvement, or related experience preferred
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills to identify issues, interpret complex data and translate it into actionable insights • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly and persuasively. • Resource Allocation: Balance competing priorities and adapt as needed. • End-to-end Project Management: Lead improvement projects from initiation to completion. Monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure timely delivery of measurable results.
Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.
At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.
Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation