What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Manager position at Sonoco Protective Solutions, Inc.?
The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the VP of Manufacturing, the Plant Manager at our Putnam, CT facility will lead all aspects of plant operations while championing ThermoSafe’s core competencies: Business Knowledge, Communications, Customer Focus, Leadership/Teamwork/Collaboration, People Selection & Development, Innovation, and Execution/Accountability.
This is a high-impact leadership role for a results-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced, safety-first manufacturing environment and is passionate about operational excellence in the life sciences industry.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead with Safety First — Champion a proactive, zero-incident safety culture and ensure every team member returns home safely each day.
- Financial Leadership — Develop and manage the plant’s annual operating budget, driving cost discipline, identifying savings opportunities, and delivering strong financial performance.
- Capital Investment — Prepare and justify capital authorization requests that support growth, modernization, and long-term competitiveness.
- Maintenance Excellence — Build and sustain a world-class maintenance program that maximizes equipment reliability, minimizes unplanned downtime, and supports continuous improvement.
- People & Culture — Cultivate positive, productive employee relationships, drive high engagement, and create an environment where team members feel valued, developed, and empowered to succeed.
- Operational Excellence — Oversee all daily manufacturing operations to consistently meet production, quality, and on-time delivery targets.
- Process Improvement & Innovation — Identify and implement lean, continuous improvement, and innovative solutions that increase efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.
- Regulatory & Quality Compliance — Ensure full compliance with all applicable safety, quality, environmental, and industry regulations (FDA, GMP, etc.) critical to the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.
- Talent Development — Attract, develop, and retain top talent through effective selection, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration — Partner with Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Corporate teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences and support business growth.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Sciences, Operations Management, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
- 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with a strong preference for cold chain, temperature-controlled packaging, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industries.
- Proven ability to lead teams through problem-solving, decisive execution, and accountability.
- Demonstrated success in budget ownership, capital project justification, and driving measurable operational improvements.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate at all organizational levels.
- Experience fostering high-performing, engaged teams in a manufacturing environment.
Why Join ThermoSafe?
- Work in a genuine safety-first culture where your leadership directly impacts the well-being of your team.
- Grow your career within ThermoSafe; that values innovation, sustainability, and people development.
- Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
Ready to lead with purpose? We’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us continue delivering packaging solutions that make a real difference.