Plant Manager

Plant Manager

Title: Plant Manager

Company: Manufacturing Group

Location: Tewksbury, MA area

Reports to: CEO

Direct reports: Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Warehouse/Shipping leaders

About the Company

Our client is a manufacturer in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts that produces high-quality, value-added, hand-crafted products.

They have roughly 400 employees in the US and a workforce that spans down the East Coast, but the majority of the workforce is in MA.

The Opportunity

The Plant Manager owns the day-to-day performance of the company's Massachusetts production facility, with full accountability for safety, quality, output, cost, and people. This is a hands-on, on-the-floor leadership role in a fast-paced, high-mix, labor-intensive operation.

The right leader will bring structure and discipline to the plant while keeping the craftsmanship and customer responsiveness that set the business apart. You will partner closely with the executive team, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Sales, and Supply Chain, and you will play a visible role in executing the value creation plan.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Compliance, and Quality

• Champion a proactive safety culture by establishing clear accountability, providing effective training, and implementing preventive measures to minimize workplace incidents and OSHA recordables.

• Ensure the facility operates in full compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, and company policies.

• Maintain rigorous standards for product control, sanitation, quality assurance, and traceability throughout all production lines.

Production and Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily, weekly, and monthly production activities to achieve established output targets while meeting customer service, on-time-in-full (OTIF), and quality expectations.

• Monitor and improve key plant performance metrics, including yield, labor efficiency, throughput, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), scrap, product giveaway, and operating costs.

• Manage a diverse, high-SKU product portfolio with customized production requirements, frequent changeovers, and demanding turnaround times.

• Collaborate with Sales and Supply Chain teams to align production capacity, scheduling, demand forecasts, and new product introductions with business needs.

Financial and Cost Management

• Develop and oversee the plant's operating budget, staffing plans, and labor model while identifying opportunities to improve cost efficiency.

• Evaluate, recommend, and implement capital investments in equipment, technology, and automation to increase productivity and reduce reliance on manual labor.

Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing

• Implement and sustain lean manufacturing practices, including 5S, standardized work, root cause analysis, visual management, and structured daily performance meetings, in coordination with the Continuous Improvement team.

• Analyze operational data to identify inefficiencies, eliminate recurring losses, and deliver lasting improvements in production yield, labor utilization, and overall plant performance.

Team Leadership and Workforce Development

• Lead, coach, and hold supervisors and production leads accountable for results across multiple shifts.

• Build and retain a capable, diverse hourly workforce through effective hiring, onboarding, training, employee engagement, and succession planning.

• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and promote open communication, mutual respect, accountability, and collaboration across all levels of the organization.

Maintenance and Facility Management

• Direct preventive maintenance programs, equipment reliability initiatives, and facility maintenance activities to improve asset performance and minimize unplanned downtime.

• Partner with maintenance personnel to address equipment issues, prioritize repairs, and support uninterrupted production.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

• At least 8 years of manufacturing experience, including 3 or more years in a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Production Manager, or comparable leadership role with full P&L responsibility or significant plant-level accountability.

• Demonstrated success improving workplace safety, production yield, labor productivity, and operating costs in a labor-intensive, high-mix manufacturing environment.

• Practical experience applying lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies to improve operational performance.

• Ability to work on-site at a manufacturing facility located north of Boston, Massachusetts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in a high-growth business or rapidly evolving manufacturing environment.

• Experience implementing automation solutions in manual or partially automated production operations.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.

• Fluency in English and Spanish, or prior experience managing and developing a multilingual workforce.

Leadership Profile and First-Year Objectives

Ideal Leadership Characteristics

• Visible and hands-on: Maintains a strong presence on the production floor, remains accessible to employees, and engages directly with teams across all shifts.

• Results-oriented and accountable: Establishes clear performance expectations, uses data to guide decisions, and consistently follows through on commitments.

• Committed to developing talent: Builds leadership capabilities within the supervisory team and creates opportunities for employee growth and advancement.

• Calm under pressure: Makes timely, sound decisions in a fast-paced, customer-focused manufacturing environment.

• Business-minded: Understands the pace, performance expectations, and accountability associated with private equity ownership.

Key Measures of Success Within the First 12 Months

1. Improved safety and operating performance: Deliver measurable progress in workplace safety, production efficiency, and overall plant results.
2. Established daily management practices: Implement a structured operating rhythm supported by KPI dashboards, visual performance boards, and tiered daily huddles.
3. Stronger production outcomes: Achieve documented improvements in yield, labor productivity, and on-time delivery performance.
4. A stronger, more stable workforce: Develop an engaged and effective supervisory team while improving hourly employee retention and reducing turnover.
5. A clear investment strategy: Establish a prioritized capital expenditure and automation plan aligned with operational needs and broader business objectives.