Plant Manager - Manufacturing Operations

Plant Manager – Manufacturing Operations
Location: Alvarado, Texas
Department: Operations
Division: New Wave Texas
Reports To: Senior Vice President of Operations
FLSA Status: Exempt

About the Company

New Wave Global is a leading supplier and manufacturer of household cleaning products for national brand and private label customers. While driving change through sustainable solutions, our innovations have resulted in advanced standards, accelerated retail sales, and improved quality of life for the everyday American.

We are expanding our operations and seeking an experienced Plant Manager who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is passionate about building high-performing teams, improving operational performance, and delivering exceptional service to customers.

Position Overview

The Plant Manager will lead all aspects of manufacturing operations at our Alvarado, Texas facility. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across production, safety, quality, maintenance, and continuous improvement while ensuring the plant delivers on productivity, cost, and customer service goals.

This leader will oversee multiple production value streams within liquid and powder filling operations and will play a key role in scaling the facility, optimizing efficiency, and developing a strong operational culture.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader who can balance strategic thinking with day-to-day execution, develop strong teams, and drive measurable performance improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all plant activities including production, maintenance, quality, and safety.
• Ensure the facility consistently meets production targets, service commitments, and financial objectives.
• Drive operational discipline through effective planning, scheduling, and performance management.

Production & Process Excellence

• Optimize manufacturing processes to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Identify and implement process improvements across all production value streams.
• Ensure production processes support customer specifications and high product quality standards.

Quality & Compliance

• Maintain strict adherence to quality standards, regulatory requirements, and food/beverage manufacturing best practices.
• Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with cGMP, EPA standards, customer audit and regulatory requirements.
• Drive a culture of quality ownership throughout the organization.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a cross-functional team of supervisors, technicians, and production associates.
• Build a high-performance culture centered on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop leadership capability within the plant and create strong succession pipelines.

Safety & Environmental Responsibility

• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure full compliance with OSHA and company safety standards.
• Lead initiatives that improve workplace safety and reduce risk across all operations.
• Ensure proper training, procedures, and accountability are in place for all employees.

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Ensure equipment reliability through effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Partner with maintenance teams to minimize downtime and improve asset utilization.
• Support capital investment planning and equipment upgrades as the facility grows.

Customer & Business Partnership

• Collaborate with sales, supply chain, and executive leadership to support customer needs and production planning.
• Ensure the plant delivers reliable, high-quality service that strengthens customer relationships.
• Support operational readiness for new product launches and client growth.

Financial & Performance Management

• Develop and manage plant operating budgets and cost controls.
• Monitor key operational KPIs including throughput, scrap, labor efficiency, and OEE and report to leadership.
• Identify and implement cost improvement initiatives without compromising safety or quality.
  

Qualifications

Education

• A degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field preferred.

Experience

• 7 years of manufacturing leadership experience, including significant plant or operations management responsibility.
• Experience in high-speed manufacturing environments such as beverage, food processing, packaging, or bottling preferred.
• Proven success leading teams, improving operational performance, and managing plant operations.

Skills & Leadership Capabilities

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, inventory control warehouse operations, and equipment reliability.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and cost performance.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial manufacturing environment.
  

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations
• Consistent achievement of production and quality targets
• Improved operational efficiency and reduced costs
• A highly engaged and accountable plant team
• Strong customer satisfaction and operational partnership with leadership
  

Why Join New Wave

• Opportunity to lead and shape a growing manufacturing facility
• Work directly with senior leadership to scale operations
• Make a visible impact on operational performance and company growth
• Build and develop a high-performing operations team

Compensation

• Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience