Plant Manager

Position Overview

The Plant Manager is the senior site leader and is responsible for the total performance, strategy, and safe operation of the manufacturing facility. This role sets the vision, drives operational excellence, and leads cross-functional teams to deliver world-class results in safety, quality, productivity, culture, and profitability.

With a strong foundation in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Process Control, and Leadership Development, the Site Leader ensures the plant meets business objectives while fostering an engaged workforce and a continuous improvement mindset. The Site Leader serves as the site champion—leading with the company’s Core Values and maintaining a strong relationship with corporate partners across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and other supporting functions.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Environmental & Compliance Leadership

• Ensure a workplace where every employee, contractor, and visitor operates safely and injury-free.
• Maintain regulatory compliance (OSHA, environmental, quality, and agency requirements).
• Oversee environmental and process safety systems, including OSHA 1910.119 Process Safety Management (PSM) where applicable.
• Serve as a visible and relentless advocate for a “Zero Harm” safety culture.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process control initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase throughput.
• Implement Strategic Work Design, Lean, Kaizen, 5S, VSM, and standardized work systems.
• Develop and manage KPIs, dashboards, and transparent performance reporting visible to all levels of the organization.
• Ensure all products produced meet or exceed customer expectations for quality and delivery.

Strategic Business Leadership

• Own the site business plan, including budgeting, financial performance, capital planning, and strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Finance, Engineering, and Operations leaders to align site execution with corporate strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement in cost management, asset utilization, OEE, and long-term facility readiness.
• Lead long-range planning for capacity, equipment upgrades, product evolution, and competitive advantage.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team across manufacturing, engineering, safety, maintenance, and support functions.
• Establish a pipeline of future leaders through coaching, succession planning, and structured development programs.
• Promote a “One Team” culture grounded in:
• Protecting What Matters
• Making It Better
• Practicing Integrity Without Compromise
• Foster a work environment based on transparency, accountability, trust, and employee empowerment.

Financial & Resource Management

• Own site P&L performance, including productivity, cost control, materials management, and efficiency.
• Optimize labor, equipment, asset utilization, and operating expenses without compromising safety or quality.
• Identify savings opportunities through process optimization, waste elimination, and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder, Customer & Vendor Partnerships

• Collaborate with procurement, supply chain, and quality to ensure materials and supply reliability.
• Strengthen vendor and contractor relationships to support plant operations.
• Provide senior leadership with timely reporting on plant performance, risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a positive representative of the company within the community, driving economic stability and responsible corporate citizenship.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Industrial Operations, Business, or related field or 10 years of manufacturing leadership experience, with 5 years in a plant manager or senior site leadership position.
• Proven experience leading large-scale manufacturing operations with full P&L accountability.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement frameworks.
• Strong track record of building high-performing teams and improving organizational maturity.
• Experience managing complex operations with strong ties to engineering, safety, maintenance, and quality systems.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functionally and at all organizational levels.
• Highly proficient in MS Office and ERP/enterprise management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or Business.
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt certification.
• CPIM certification
• Experience leading a high-hazard or PSM-regulated manufacturing operation.
• Experience in multi-site collaboration, benchmarking, and knowledge sharing.

Key Attributes

• Integrity without compromise
• Courage to challenge and improve
• Humble, transparent, and team-focused leadership
• Strong strategic thinker with disciplined execution skills
• Passion for results and operational excellence
• Empathy, coaching mindset, and talent builder
• Excellent communicator and influential leader
• High technical competency and business acumen

Why Join Us

• Competitive compensation and full benefits
• Opportunity to lead a flagship operation in a growing, innovative company
• Culture committed to excellence, development, and continuous improvement
• Executive visibility and career progression within a global organization