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Ames Plant Director

3M · Westchester, IL · Remote available · $250,253–$305,864 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a plant you led where safety performance improved. What did you personally change?

What they are checking: Whether they own safety culture as a leader rather than delegating it to the EHS team.

Tell me about a time you had to make a decisive call with incomplete information that affected the whole site.

What they are checking: Whether they can act firmly under uncertainty and own the outcome.

Tell me about a difficult employee relations situation at site level and how you handled it.

What they are checking: Whether they handle workforce issues fairly and keep trust with employees during conflict.

How do you stay visible to second and third shift employees as plant director?

What they are checking: Whether they lead the whole plant, not only the day shift people they see most.

What would you do

You'd lead the Ames plant across environment, health, safety, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, cost and employee relations. Where would you start in your first ninety days?

What they are checking: Whether they learn before acting and can set priorities across many competing areas.

Your quality metrics are slipping while cost is on target. How do you diagnose what is happening?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize that cost gains can hide quality erosion and dig into the cause.

How do you build a leadership team at a plant where some managers have been there far longer than you?

What they are checking: Whether they earn credibility with long-tenured leaders while still raising the bar.

How do you work with the supply chain and division teams when they want something your plant can't deliver?

What they are checking: Whether they can push back honestly and negotiate rather than overpromise.

About the work

How do you make sure the plant meets regulatory requirements without that becoming the only goal?

What they are checking: Whether they see compliance as a floor and build systems that protect people beyond the minimum.

What does operational excellence look like on the floor of a well-run plant?

What they are checking: Whether they have a concrete picture of standard work, visual management and problem solving in practice.

How do you decide which capital projects to push for at the plant?

What they are checking: Whether they tie investment requests to safety, quality and return rather than wish lists.

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The full job description

As published by 3M.

Job Description: Plant Director-Ames Iowa Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a diversity of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers. This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career. The Impact You’ll Make in this Role As a Plant Director, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by: • Leading a team of employees dedicated to making products to enhance and improve lives for people around the world • Leading operational excellence at our Ames, IA Plant through conscientious management and decisive actions in environment, health, safety, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, cost, and employee relations • Overseeing plant environment, health, safety, and security practices that respect our environment, meet requirements established by regulatory bodies, protect our employees, and align with company expectations. • Accelerating value creation for our customers through responsive end-to-end supply chain performance and prompt resolution to customer inquiries • Developing strategic plans and budgets to drive continuous and sustainable improvements through the application of disruptive technology, lean six sigma methods, and effective employee engagement programs • Championing inclusive programs that create a great place to work for all our employees Your Skills and Expertise To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start) from an accredited institution • Ten (10) years of combined experience in quality, product/process/project engineering, or manufacturing in a private, public, government, or military environment • Five (5) years of experience in a management role in a manufacturing setting in a private, public, government or military environment Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include: • Plant Manager (or equivalent) experience in a complex (e.g. size, NPI) organization • Demonstrated strong leadership ability and history of leading high-performance teams • Experience and certification with Lean Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing methodologies • Experience in operational excellence, lean implementation, and financial accounting Work location: On-site Ames, IA Travel: May include up to 10% domestic Relocation Assistance: Is authorized Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status). Supporting Your Well-being 3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope. Chat with Max For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting on 3M.com/careers. Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $250,253 - $305,864, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/. Good Faith Posting Date Range 09/21/2026 To 10/21/2026 Or until filled All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M. Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties. Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement. Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/ 3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly. 3M Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at 3M are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms. Please click on the following links and select the country where you are applying for employment to review the applicable Terms of Use (link here) and Privacy Policy (link here) . Before submitting your application, you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

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