Plant Manager 3PL Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Plant Manager / Site Leader – 3PL Operations

Location: Plainfield, IN | Direct Hire

Compensation: Up to $170,000 DOE + 20% Bonus Potential

First Call Direct Hire is seeking an experienced Plant Manager / Site Leader to join a global organization in Plainfield, IN.

This is a senior site leadership position intended for an experienced operations leader who has led managers and leadership teams within a 3PL, warehouse, distribution, fulfillment, manufacturing, or comparable large-scale operation.

This is not a Warehouse Supervisor or first-level Operations Manager position. Candidates should have demonstrated experience managing managers, owning site-level operational results, working directly with key customers, and having responsibility for financial performance.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, including senior-level responsibility for a facility or large operation. Proven leadership experience within 3PL operations is highly desirable, particularly experience working for a 3PL provider that manages warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, or logistics services on behalf of a customer.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for day-to-day site, warehouse, and operational performance.

• Manage, mentor, and develop managers and the site's leadership team.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customer leadership.

• Work directly with the customer to align operational priorities, expectations, performance, and long-term goals.

• Drive accountability across the leadership team and overall operation.

• Manage P&L performance, plant budgets, operating expenses, and cost-control initiatives.

• Hire, train, motivate, and develop employees while building leadership bench strength and supporting retention.

• Lead change management, operational improvement, and organizational development initiatives.

• Participate in contract management and negotiations where applicable.

• Develop and execute long-term operational strategies and 3–5-year roadmaps.

• Evaluate labor, operating expense, capacity, and capital requirements to support current and future business needs.

• Establish, monitor, and improve KPIs, CPIs, and operational performance metrics.

• Oversee inventory governance, inventory accuracy, audits, material flow, and operational controls.

• Evaluate labor and storage capacity to support customer and operational requirements.

• Drive continuous improvement, Kaizen, process optimization, efficiency, and waste-reduction initiatives.

• Lead preventive and corrective actions to improve quality and operational performance.

• Maintain high standards for safety, quality, security, and regulatory compliance.

• Ensure compliance with company requirements, OSHA standards, and applicable ITAR/security requirements.

• Utilize SAP WMS and other operational systems to support inventory, warehouse, and performance management.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be a hands-on, results-driven senior site leader who can balance operational execution with strategic planning.

This individual should be comfortable working closely with employees on the floor while also leading and developing managers, driving accountability, improving processes, managing financial performance, and building strong customer relationships.

We are seeking a leader who can establish credibility with employees, managers, customers, and senior leadership while bringing energy, accountability, sound decision-making, and a continuous improvement mindset to the operation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, including senior-level responsibility for a facility, distribution center, fulfillment operation, manufacturing operation, or comparable large-scale operation.

• Demonstrated experience managing managers and developing a leadership team.

• Proven leadership experience in 3PL, warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, logistics, or closely related operations. Direct 3PL provider-side leadership experience is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated responsibility for site-level operational performance and results.

• Strong customer-facing leadership experience, including direct interaction with key customer stakeholders.

• Experience with P&L responsibility, budgeting, cost management, and financial performance.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance customer, operational, and financial priorities.

• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.

• Demonstrated success leading change and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Experience with Lean, Kaizen, process improvement, and waste reduction.

• Knowledge of labor relations, safety, quality, and ISO-related operational requirements.

• Experience with inventory management and warehouse management systems.

• SAP WM or similar WMS experience preferred.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and related business applications.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Behavioral Science, or a related field preferred.

Compensation

Base salary up to $170,000 DOE, plus 20% bonus potential.

Final compensation will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, and interview performance and is subject to review at the time of final offer.

Experienced Plant Managers, Site Leaders, General Managers, Directors of Operations, and other senior operations leaders with a strong background in 3PL, warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, or logistics operations are encouraged to apply.