Plant Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

Manages all aspects of plant operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient manufacturing performance. Accountable for achieving production, quality, and financial objectives while leading teams to execute effectively, resolve operational issues, and maintain a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Lead and sustain a process safety culture, ensuring hazards are identified, risks are assessed, and controls are maintained to prevent serious incidents.

· Ensure full compliance with all safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory standards, policies, permits, and requirements.

· Monitor site compliance with all applicable outside agencies such as OSHA and the EPA, and ensure permit requirements are met

· Oversee training programs to ensure employees are properly trained and adopt a Safety First culture

· Direct and coordinate production activities through supervisors and team leads to meet production, quality, and delivery targets

· Proactively identify safety and quality risks and implement effective engineering and procedural controls to mitigate hazards and prevent incidents

· Lead root cause analysis for safety and quality issues and ensure timely and effective implementation of corrective actions

· Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve uptime/reliability, reduce scrap, and increase overall efficiency

· Manage plant performance against key metrics including safety, quality, productivity, and cost

· Develop and execute tactical plans aligned with company goals and objectives

· Partner with maintenance and engineering to improve asset reliability, equipment integrity, preventive maintenance execution, and shutdown planning.

· Provide leadership, coaching, and development to supervisors and employees to build team capability and accountability

· Ensure effective communication across all levels of the organization and with internal and external stakeholders

· Manage plant operations within established budget parameters and drive cost control initiatives

· Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient work environment aligned with company standards

· Uphold and enforce company policies, procedures, and Code of Conduct

· Ensure timely reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, and resolution of safety, quality, environmental, and operational incidents.

· Ensure supervisors and employees are held accountable for compliance with company policies, procedures, safety requirements, and performance expectations

· Partner with Human Resources to support employee relations, performance management, workforce planning, succession planning, investigations, employee engagement, and organizational development initiatives.

 

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following. 

Leadership & Accountability – Leads by example, sets clear expectations, and holds self and others accountable for performance, safety, and results

Safety & Compliance Focus – Promotes a culture of safety by ensuring risks are identified, policies are followed, and employees are trained and operating safely

Operational Execution – Effectively manages daily operations to meet production, quality, and delivery objectives while maintaining efficiency and control

Problem Solving & Decision Making – Identifies issues, analyzes root causes, and implements timely and effective solutions

Communication – Communicates clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization, ensuring alignment and understanding

People Development – Coaches, mentors, and develops employees to build capability, engagement, and performance

Continuous Improvement – Drives initiatives that improve processes, reduce waste, and enhance overall operational performance

Planning & Organization – Prioritizes work, manages resources, and executes plans to achieve business objectives

Employee Relations – Builds positive working relationships, addresses employee concerns promptly and professionally, manages conflict effectively, and fosters a respectful and engaged workplace.

Business Acumen – Understands the financial and operational drivers of the business and makes decisions that support profitability, growth, customer satisfaction, and long-term organizational success.

 

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Education/Experience –  A bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field is preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. The position requires a minimum of five years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment with progressively increasing levels of responsibility, including experience managing plant or production operations. Experience in plastics processing, compounding, or a related manufacturing environment is preferred. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead teams, drive operational performance, and achieve production and quality goals. Experience with industrial hygiene, process safety management, incident investigation, and implementation of corrective actions is required. Prior experience managing budgets, controlling costs, and improving operational efficiency is preferred.

Language Ability –  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business documents, safety procedures, and technical information. Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with employees at all levels of the organization, as well as with customers and external stakeholders. Must be able to clearly present information, respond to questions, and provide direction in a professional and concise manner.

Mathematical Ability –  Ability to apply mathematical concepts, including statistical data analysis to evaluate and summarize data. Ability to interpret and analyze data related to production, quality, and performance metrics, and use that information to make informed decisions. Ability to work with basic financial and operational data, including budgets, costs, and efficiency measure

Reasoning Ability –  Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, and draw valid conclusions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, or diagram form and apply them to operational situations. Must be able to evaluate complex situations, identify root causes, and make sound decisions to resolve issues and improve performance.

Computer Skills –   Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with the ability to analyze data, prepare reports, and communicate effectively. Proficiency in statistical software such as MiniTab is preferred. Ability to learn and utilize company systems related to production, quality, and operations, such as ERP or manufacturing systems. Must be comfortable using computer-based tools to monitor performance, track metrics, and support decision-making.

Technical Skills – Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to analyze data and generate reports. Experience with ERP or manufacturing systems to manage production and operational data. Familiarity with performance metrics, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement practices to support decision-making and operational efficiency.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with regular exposure to moving mechanical parts, equipment, noise, dust, and varying temperatures. The role requires frequent presence on the production floor to support operations, monitor performance, and ensure compliance with safety and operational standards. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. The position may require flexibility in work hours to support production needs, including extended hours, weekends, or off-shift coverage as necessary.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and move throughout the facility. The employee may be required to sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, and reach with hands and arms. Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, and climbing may be required. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 55 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, the ability to distinguish colors accurately, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.