Plant Manager

Job Description

Smart4Sciences are looking to recruit a Plant Manager to oversee operations across two manufacturing facilities including in Barberton, Ohio for a leading global manufacturer within the specialty materials and industrial coatings sector. This is a senior site leadership position with responsibility for production, maintenance, quality, logistics, safety and continuous improvement, ensuring both facilities meet their operational, customer, safety and financial objectives.

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The successful candidate will lead large teams, drive operational excellence and develop a strong culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement across the sites.

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To be considered, you will need a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management or a related discipline, alongside 10+ years' experience managing manufacturing plant operations and large teams. Experience managing a unionised workforce, including collective bargaining, grievances and industrial relations, is essential.

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Key Responsibilities

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• Oversee day-to-day operations across production, maintenance, quality and logistics.
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• Ensure plants consistently achieve safety, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
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• Lead and develop large plant teams, promoting a culture of accountability and high performance.
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• Manage unionised employees and maintain effective labour and industrial relations.
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• Ensure compliance with OSHA PSM, environmental regulations and other applicable industry standards.
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• Oversee quality systems and ensure compliance with ISO 9000 requirements.
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• Drive corrective actions, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives.
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• Monitor throughput, scrap, downtime and OEE, identifying opportunities to improve productivity and reduce costs.
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• Ensure production schedules support customer requirements and on-time delivery.
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• Maintain strong customer relationships through consistent quality and delivery performance.
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• Identify and implement plant-wide productivity and operational improvement projects.
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• Coach and develop plant leadership and operational teams to achieve performance objectives.
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Key Requirements

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• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management or a related field.
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• 10+ years' experience in plant/manufacturing operations leadership.
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• Proven experience managing large manufacturing teams.
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• Strong experience managing a unionised workforce, including collective bargaining, grievances and industrial relations.
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• Experience across production, maintenance, quality and logistics within a manufacturing environment.
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• Strong understanding of OSHA PSM and environmental compliance.
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• Experience with ISO 9000 quality systems.
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• Demonstrated experience delivering Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement programmes.
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• Experience in specialty materials, polymers, coatings, membranes, films or engineered sheet products is highly desirable.
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• Experience with phosgene-derived specialty chemical products would be advantageous.
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• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
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• Ability to operate effectively in a senior, hands-on plant leadership position.
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