Plant Manager

The Plant Manager has overall responsibility for leading the Norcross site, with accountability for Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE), Quality, Site Administration, Production, Assembly, Packaging and Maintenance. The role leads direct reports and partners with dotted‑line functions to ensure a safe, compliant workplace and the consistent delivery of high‑quality products that meet customer expectations for service, cost, and reliability. As an action‑oriented leader, the Plant Manager drives operational excellence, continuous improvement, and cost optimization while living the company’s core values. The role actively participates in the Global Operations Community and may support or lead cross‑functional initiatives with global partners such as R&D, Finance, Supply Chain, and EHS.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct and coordinate all site manufacturing operations in accordance with company policies and procedures, with primary accountability for safety, compliance, housekeeping, cost, quality, and productivity.
• Own site operating performance, driving cost control, productivity, and quality improvements in close collaboration with Supply Chain (Purchasing, Planning and Logistics).
• Develop and execute plans to continuously improve operational efficiency and reduce total cost of production.
• Set goals, coach, and hold accountable direct reports; ensure effective training, development, and succession planning for site teams.
• Establish and maintain site employee training programs to support safety, quality, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Manage employee performance processes, including evaluations, corrective actions, and attendance, in partnership with HR.
• Partner closely with Supply Chain, Sales, and other functional teams to align production execution with the agreed supply plan and customer commitments.
• Define and maintain work procedures and instructions; prioritize and manage maintenance requirements to ensure safe, reliable operations.
• Ensure production and internal warehousing activities meet or exceed quality standards through adherence to SOPs, regulatory requirements, and OSHA standards.
• Lead regular site communications and employee meetings covering safety, quality, delivery, cost, and operational priorities.
• Establish and monitor production metrics and KPIs to improve process capability, capacity, and productivity; provide regular performance reporting.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives using TPM, TQM, Lean, and Six Sigma principles and tools.
• Participate in the capital planning process, including identifying, developing, justifying, and implementing CAPEX projects.
• Support lean production control and material flow systems (e.g., pull systems, Kanban, level scheduling) in collaboration with Supply Chain.
• Foster effective use of ERP systems to enable data‑driven decision‑making and operational discipline.

REQUIREMENTS:

Experience:

• 5-7 years’ experience in Operations management.
• Manufacturing experience in equipment assembly and blending operations.
• Must have ERP experience or willing to learn relating to manufacturing and warehousing operations.
• Ideally has experience in:
• Engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance management in a non-union environment.
• Supply chain and logistics management.
• ISO 9001 and/or SQF level 2 or 3 certification management
• Project and capital expense management including capital justification, equipment selection and layout and capital program implementation.
• Demonstrated use of Continuous Improvement methodologies like TQM and/or Lean Six Sigma.
• Proficient in spreadsheet, database and presentation including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Access.

Education:

• 4 Year Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, MRP II, ERP training a plus
• APICS (or similar) training a plus
• ASQ and ISO 9001 training a plus

Skills:

• Strong bias for safety and safety leadership
• Strong leadership presence, balancing strategic vision with hands‑on, day‑to‑day site management.
• Servant leader with a strong focus on people development, coaching, organizational development, and employee engagement.
• Proven ability to lead and influence cross‑functional teams, building effective partnerships at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong influence, presentation, and change‑management capabilities.
• Able to operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple priorities with a high sense of urgency, accountability, and ownership.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with regulatory agencies and local, county, and state authorities as required.
• Highly organized and self‑motivated, with a “can‑do” mindset and the ability to drive ideas through to implementation.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to perform statistical analysis and apply quality tools such as root cause analysis and CAPA.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve issues with internal and external customers while maintaining a customer‑focused mindset.
• Solid financial acumen, including experience managing operating and capital budgets.