PLANT MANAGER

Job Overview
The Plant Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and profitable operation of our consumer goods and packaging manufacturing facility. Reporting to the General Manager, this role leads all site functions, including production, quality, safety, maintenance, and continuous improvement. The Plant Manager drives a culture of operational excellence through Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, develops high-performing teams, and delivers on production targets, cost, and quality KPIs that support business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Production

• Direct day-to-day manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets
• Develop and execute production schedules that align with customer demand and inventory goals
• Oversee capacity planning, resource allocation, and workflow optimization across all production lines
• Own plant P&L accountability
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action for production failures, equipment downtime, and quality escapes

Lean / Six Sigma & Continuous Improvement

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma (DMAIC), and Kaizen methodologies
• Lead or sponsor CI projects targeting waste reduction, cycle time, yield improvement, and cost savings
• Implement and sustain visual management systems, 5S, and standard work across the facility
• Track and report improvement metrics; communicate results to plant and leadership teams
• Build CI capability in the workforce through coaching, training, and active participation in improvement events

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of supervisors, engineers, and frontline associates
• Set performance expectations, conduct reviews, and create individual development plans for direct reports
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and inclusion on the shopfloor
• Partner with HR on talent acquisition, employee relations, succession planning, and workforce development.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Maintain a safe work environment; drive proactive safety programs, incident investigation, and OSHA compliance
• Ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and applicable quality management standards
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to uphold product integrity and minimize defects and customer complaints
• Ensure facility compliance with all environmental, health, safety, and regulatory requirements

Financial & Strategic Management

• Manage plant operating budget; identify and deliver cost reduction and efficiency improvement opportunities
• Report plant performance against KPIs to senior leadership on a weekly and monthly basis
• Participate in strategic planning, capital expenditure requests, and facility expansion initiatives
• Partner with supply chain, procurement, and sales teams to support sales and customer commitments

Qualifications

• Required
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field
• 5 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 2 years in a plant or production management role
• Experience in consumer goods, packaging, or related high-volume manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated Lean manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience with verifiable project results
• Strong working knowledge of safety regulations (OSHA) and quality management systems
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and developing frontline talent
• Proficiency with ERP systems and production reporting tools (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent)

Preferred

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• Lean certification or formal Lean leadership training (TWI, Shingo, etc.)
• Experience managing packaging lines (form-fill-seal, labeling, palletizing, etc.)
• MBA or advanced degree
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus, depending on facility demographics

Competencies

Leadership & People Development

Coaches and develops talent at all levels; builds bench strength and a culture of accountability.

Continuous Improvement Mindset

Actively identifies and eliminates waste; sustains gains through standard work and visual management.

Results Orientation

Sets ambitious goals; tracks performance rigorously and removes obstacles to delivery.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partners effectively with supply chain, quality, sales, and HR to achieve shared outcomes.

Physical & Working Conditions

• Primarily a plant floor environment; exposure to machinery, noise, and varying temperatures
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Standard hours are Monday–Friday; flexibility required for off-shift support, start-ups, or customer visits

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person