Plant Manager

Scope of Position

Our client is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to provide overall leadership for a manufacturing facility, with responsibility for delivering results across safety, quality, customer service, cost, productivity, people development, and continuous improvement.

This is a highly visible leadership position for a results-oriented manufacturing professional who enjoys developing people, improving processes, and building a culture of accountability and operational excellence.

The Plant Manager will lead day-to-day manufacturing operations while also setting the strategic and tactical direction necessary to achieve both plant and company objectives.

Responsibilities

Safety & Quality Leadership

• Champion a safety-first culture by ensuring compliance with established safety, health, quality, GMP, and company policies and procedures.
• Lead plant safety initiatives, including training programs, safety meetings, audits, employee engagement, and recognition programs.
• Drive quality performance through corrective and preventive actions, root-cause problem solving, new product qualifications, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in internal and external quality system audits and ensure corrective action plans are implemented effectively.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for safety and quality throughout the organization.

Operational Excellence

• Direct daily manufacturing operations to achieve goals for safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, and delivery.
• Review operating and financial performance and ensure plant costs remain within established budgetary standards.
• Develop and execute continuous improvement plans that support both short- and long-term performance objectives.
• Champion Operational Excellence, Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies across cross-functional teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment utilization, labor efficiency, material usage, waste, throughput, and overall plant performance.
• Oversee production planning to ensure customer requirements and delivery expectations are consistently achieved.

Leadership & People Development

• Select, develop, coach, and retain plant leadership, supervisory, and staff personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and create accountability for achieving organizational goals.
• Build leadership capability and strengthen succession planning throughout the plant.
• Foster an open-door, collaborative, and team-oriented culture that encourages employee involvement and continuous improvement.
• Create an environment where employees are engaged, empowered, and focused on achieving shared goals.

Customer & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers while identifying opportunities for process improvements and supply chain cost reductions.
• Partner closely with Sales and Customer Service to meet customer requirements and maximize utilization of plant capabilities.
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, Maintenance, and other functional teams to achieve business objectives.
• Serve as the plant's Project Manager for new equipment, molds/tooling, and other key manufacturing initiatives.

Business & Strategic Management

• Develop and execute the plant's strategic and tactical operating plans, providing the focus and direction necessary to achieve plant and company objectives.
• Monitor plant performance through key operating and financial metrics, proactively addressing performance gaps.
• Participate in monthly, quarterly, and year-end physical inventories in accordance with company guidelines.
• Lead or participate in special projects and initiatives that support broader organizational priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Manufacturing, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent combinations of education and relevant plant management experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive operations leadership experience in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing teams and delivering measurable operational results.
• Experience within packaging, containers, plastics, blow molding, injection molding, rigid packaging, or a related manufacturing environment is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Operational Excellence, or similar continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience managing operating budgets and manufacturing costs.
• Proven ability to lead change, solve complex problems, develop people, and create accountability.
• Strong computer and technology skills.

Our client is looking for a Plant Manager who:

• Leads from the floor: Is visible, engaged, and connected to employees and daily operations.
• Develops people: Coaches others, builds strong teams, and creates opportunities for employees to grow.
• Drives results: Uses data, accountability, and disciplined execution to achieve performance objectives.
• Communicates effectively: Clearly conveys expectations, priorities, and business information at all levels of the organization.
• Collaborates: Builds productive relationships across departments and proactively contributes to shared objectives.
• Solves problems: Identifies root causes, makes sound decisions, and follows through to sustainable solutions.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment: Effectively prioritizes competing demands, works under pressure, and consistently meets deadlines.
• Puts the customer first: Understands how plant performance affects customers and works proactively to deliver exceptional service.