General Manager

General Manager – Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing

Location: Mobile, Alabama

Industry: Corrugated Packaging & Manufacturing

Position Type: Full-Time | Senior Leadership

Search: Confidential

Position Overview

An established and growing packaging manufacturing organization is seeking an accomplished General Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for its corrugated packaging manufacturing operation in southern Alabama.

This position represents an opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to take responsibility for an established business, strengthen operational performance, develop its leadership team, and support continued growth within a larger packaging organization.

The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of corrugated manufacturing, proven business management capabilities, and a demonstrated ability to lead complex manufacturing operations.

The General Manager will provide leadership across manufacturing, production planning, maintenance, warehousing, logistics, safety, quality, and supporting business functions. Working closely with regional leadership, this individual will establish operational priorities, drive profitability, improve manufacturing efficiencies, and ensure the organization consistently meets its customer service and business objectives.

The ideal candidate will combine hands-on manufacturing knowledge with strong financial acumen, commercial awareness, and the leadership skills required to manage an entire business operation.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Operational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for daily corrugated packaging manufacturing operations, ensuring efficient production, consistent quality, and dependable customer service.
• Oversee corrugating and converting operations, including production scheduling, equipment utilization, maintenance, material flow, and finished goods distribution.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, including production throughput, machine efficiency, downtime, waste, labor productivity, manufacturing costs, and on-time delivery.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency, increase capacity, reduce operating expenses, and strengthen plant profitability.
• Partner with production and maintenance leadership to improve equipment reliability, preventive maintenance programs, and overall asset utilization.
• Ensure effective coordination between production, maintenance, warehousing, receiving, shipping, transportation, and supporting departments.
• Evaluate manufacturing capabilities, staffing levels, equipment performance, and operational processes to support current requirements and future business growth.

Business Management & Financial Performance

• Assume responsibility for achieving established financial, operational, and profitability objectives.
• Manage operating budgets, cost controls, financial forecasting, and capital expenditure planning in collaboration with regional and financial leadership.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, labor utilization, material consumption, waste, and operating performance to identify opportunities for improved margins.
• Develop and execute business strategies that strengthen profitability, customer satisfaction, operational performance, and long-term growth.
• Translate financial and operational information into actionable business decisions and measurable improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate capital investments, equipment upgrades, and process improvements based on operational needs and anticipated return on investment.
• Balance manufacturing capacity, customer commitments, cost considerations, and business priorities to achieve sustainable financial results.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a cross-functional management team, establishing clear performance expectations, measurable objectives, and individual accountability.
• Build a strong leadership culture emphasizing teamwork, employee engagement, operational discipline, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Develop the capabilities of department managers and supervisors through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Partner with human resources on workforce planning, employee retention, staffing, training, and organizational development.
• Foster effective communication and collaboration between manufacturing, commercial, financial, and administrative functions.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on leadership presence throughout the manufacturing operation, building relationships with employees at all levels.
• Lead organizational improvements and support change management initiatives while maintaining workforce stability and customer service.

Safety, Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Champion a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Establish high standards for product quality, manufacturing consistency, workplace safety, and customer satisfaction.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, equipment performance, waste reduction, quality, and operating efficiency.
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles, root cause analysis, and data-driven problem-solving techniques to improve performance.
• Establish clear operating procedures, performance standards, and accountability measures throughout the organization.
• Ensure manufacturing processes and quality systems consistently meet customer specifications and business requirements.

Customer Relationships & Business Growth

• Collaborate with sales and commercial leadership to align manufacturing capabilities, production capacity, and service commitments with customer requirements.
• Support business growth by identifying opportunities to improve responsiveness, expand manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen customer relationships.
• Participate in customer meetings, facility visits, and business reviews as appropriate.
• Work closely with regional leadership on business development initiatives, operational strategies, and organizational priorities.
• Maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and business partners.
• Support the alignment of local operations with broader corporate objectives, systems, and performance standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred. Equivalent progressive manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience , including significant responsibility for plant operations and cross-functional management teams.
• Strong experience in corrugated packaging manufacturing, including corrugating and converting operations, is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing manufacturing operations with multiple departments and substantial production responsibilities.
• Proven financial management capabilities, including budgeting, cost control, profitability improvement, and capital planning. Full P&L responsibility is highly desirable.
• Strong technical understanding of corrugated manufacturing equipment, production processes, maintenance strategies, and plant performance metrics.
• Documented achievements in improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing waste, increasing productivity, and strengthening equipment reliability.
• Experience leading department managers, developing supervisors, and building effective, accountable teams.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing safety requirements, quality standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to work collaboratively with sales, finance, human resources, and regional leadership.
• Strong analytical, financial, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing ERP, production reporting, or business management systems.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule to support operational and business requirements.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are seeking an experienced manufacturing executive who understands the technical complexities of corrugated packaging production and possesses the business acumen, financial discipline, and leadership capabilities required to manage a successful manufacturing operation.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following qualities:

• Corrugated Manufacturing Expertise: Strong knowledge of corrugating, converting, production equipment, material utilization, machine efficiency, and the operational challenges of a high-volume packaging environment.
• Business & Financial Acumen: Demonstrated ability to manage operating budgets, improve profitability, control manufacturing costs, and make sound business decisions.
• Proven People Leadership: Experience developing department managers, strengthening accountability, improving employee engagement, and building high-performing teams.
• Hands-On Operational Leadership: Comfortable spending time on the manufacturing floor, understanding equipment performance, resolving operational challenges, and engaging directly with employees.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Documented success improving productivity, reducing waste, strengthening safety performance, and implementing sustainable operational improvements.
• Commercial Awareness: Understands the relationship between manufacturing performance, customer satisfaction, competitive pricing, and profitable business growth.
• Strategic & Adaptable Leadership: Capable of supporting organizational change, integrating new processes and systems, and aligning local business performance with broader corporate objectives.