Plant Manager

Standard Nuclear is fueling America’s nuclear renaissance at industrial scale. Our mission is to deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power—enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy for the world.

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and safe operation of Standard Nuclear’s Oak Ridge nuclear fuel fabrication facility. This role provides strategic and day-to-day leadership across plant operations, ensuring the facility achieves its production, safety, quality, regulatory, financial, and operational objectives while fostering a strong nuclear safety culture.

As the senior operations leader for the facility, the Plant Manager is accountable for manufacturing execution, workforce performance, operational discipline, equipment reliability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional coordination. This role oversees production operations while partnering closely with Engineering, Quality, Nuclear Safety, Criticality Safety, Radiological Controls, EH&S, Maintenance, Facilities, Supply Chain, Planning, Security, and other support organizations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient plant operations.

The Plant Manager is responsible for building and developing a high-performing operations organization as the facility accelerates manufacturing. This includes establishing operational excellence, driving continuous improvement, developing frontline leaders, and ensuring all work is performed safely, consistently, and in full compliance with applicable quality, radiological, regulatory, and nuclear safety requirements.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong presence on the manufacturing floor and the ability to balance operational execution with long-term organizational growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Plant Leadership & Operations

Lead the safe, secure, and efficient operation of Standard Nuclear’s Oak Ridge nuclear fuel fabrication facility

Own plant performance across production, safety, quality, regulatory compliance, schedule, and cost

Foster a strong nuclear safety culture focused on compliance, accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement

Establish clear performance expectations and ensure operations are conducted in accordance with company policies, approved procedures, and regulatory requirements

Provide visible leadership on the manufacturing floor and reinforce expectations for safe, disciplined, and reliable operations

Manufacturing & Production Performance

Execute the facility production plan, ensuring manufacturing commitments are achieved safely, on schedule, and within quality standards

Monitor and improve key operational metrics, including throughput, yield, labor productivity, equipment availability, schedule adherence, downtime, and manufacturing cost

Work with Engineering to identify production constraints and support corrective actions to improve reliability, efficiency, and production capacity

Optimize utilization of personnel, equipment, and facility resources while supporting the introduction of new manufacturing capabilities and processes

Drive production performance as the facility accelerates manufacturing and scales operations

Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

Ensure compliance with applicable DOE, NRC, NQA-1, environmental, radiological, criticality safety, security, and company requirements

Promote safe work practices, contamination control, material accountability, and disciplined operational execution

Partner with Quality, Nuclear Safety, Radiological Controls, Criticality Safety, EH&S, and Security to support audits, inspections, readiness reviews, and regulatory assessments

Ensure timely and effective implementation of corrective actions and maintain operational readiness

Reinforce a culture where safety, quality, compliance, and production performance are integrated into daily operations

Leadership & Workforce Development

Lead and mentor production supervisors, technicians, operators, and other plant personnel while promoting accountability and professional development

Ensure personnel are properly trained, qualified, and prepared to support current and future operational needs

Develop frontline leaders who can execute production plans, reinforce standards, and support a disciplined manufacturing environment

Foster a culture of teamwork, ownership, continuous learning, and operational excellence

Build the organizational capability required to support long-term production growth

Continuous Improvement & Operational Discipline

Establish effective daily management systems, production reviews, shift handoffs, and performance metrics

Lead root cause investigations and implementation of sustainable corrective actions for operational, safety, quality, and equipment issues

Develop scalable manufacturing systems and processes to support long-term production growth

Drive improvements in throughput, yield, equipment reliability, labor productivity, and cost performance

Ensure lessons learned from production, maintenance, quality, and safety events are translated into durable operational improvements

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, Facilities, Supply Chain, Planning, Quality, Finance, EH&S, Nuclear Safety, Security, Licensing, and executive leadership to optimize plant performance

Balance production priorities with maintenance, capital projects, staffing, and long-term operational objectives

Communicate plant performance, operational risks, resource needs, and improvement initiatives to executive leadership

Support facility expansions, commissioning activities, operational readiness reviews, customer engagements, and regulatory interactions

Ensure cross-functional teams are aligned around plant priorities, constraints, and execution needs

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered

10+ years of experience in manufacturing, plant operations, industrial operations, or production leadership

Experience leading supervisors, technicians, operators, and cross-functional plant teams in a manufacturing or industrial environment

Demonstrated experience owning plant or site-level performance across safety, quality, production, cost, staffing, and operational execution

Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, production metrics, operational discipline, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement

Experience operating in regulated, safety-critical, high-reliability, or quality-controlled manufacturing environments

Proven ability to build teams, develop frontline leaders, establish accountability, and lead through growth or operational change

Strong problem-solving, communication, decision-making, and cross-functional leadership skills

Experience with DOE, NRC, NQA-1, nuclear, radiological, criticality safety, or other highly regulated environments strongly preferred

Experience in nuclear fuel fabrication, nuclear operations, chemical processing, aerospace, defense, energy, or advanced manufacturing is a plus

BENEFITS

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account

Disability and Life Insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off and Holidays

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is based on-site at Standard Nuclear’s Oak Ridge, TN nuclear fuel fabrication facility and requires regular presence on the manufacturing floor.

The position involves frequent interaction with production teams, technical staff, plant support functions, industrial equipment, controlled areas, and regulated work environments. Work may involve use of PPE, participation in work planning, and adherence to site safety, quality, radiological, contamination control, criticality safety, security, and operational procedures. Occasional travel may be required to support company operations, vendors, customers, or regulatory activities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Standard Nuclear embraces equal opportunity and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.