Plant Operations Manager

Location: Anderson, South Carolina |
Schedule: Full-Time, on-site |
Compensation: $160,000–$180,000 base salary (negotiable on experience), plus performance bonus up to 16% of salary P/A

A global manufacturing company specializing in the design, development, and production of high-quality plastic components and assemblies for the automotive, industrial, and healthcare sectors is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead its manufacturing facility in Anderson, South Carolina. The organization has an established international presence and deep expertise in advanced blow-molding and injection-molding technologies, and is pursuing an ambitious growth strategy through capital investment, strategic acquisitions, and organic growth.

This role will provide overall leadership for the facility's manufacturing operation, driving operational excellence and supporting the company's broader strategic goals.

• Provide leadership and direction across Production, Production Scheduling, Maintenance, Tooling, Engineering, Technical Resources, and Continuous Improvement
• Optimize the utilization of personnel, equipment, tooling, technology, materials, and capital resources to maximize operational performance
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives throughout the operation
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve productivity, reduce operating costs, minimize downtime, enhance quality, and optimize manufacturing processes
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability, preventive maintenance programs, tooling performance, and overall plant efficiency
• Lead capital projects and support the evaluation, procurement, installation, commissioning, and ongoing optimization of new equipment, tooling, and manufacturing systems
• Establish, monitor, and report on key operational performance metrics, implementing corrective actions to address production, safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost-related issues
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA, EPA, ISO, and IATF standards
• Manage departmental budgets and maintain effective control over labor, materials, maintenance, capital, and other operating costs
• Work cross-functionally with Materials Management, Human Resources, Quality, and Environmental Health and Safety teams, while building productive relationships with external service providers, contractors, suppliers, and vendors
• Lead, coach, and develop cross-functional teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and operational excellence
• Support workforce planning, talent development, performance management, and succession planning to strengthen the organization's long‑term leadership and technical capabilities
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute operational strategies aligned with the organization's broader business objectives and growth plans

• Five or more years of manufacturing operations leadership experience
• Proven experience leading multiple operational functions, including Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Tooling, Production Scheduling, and Continuous Improvement
• Strong knowledge of automotive and manufacturing quality‑management systems, including IATF 16949 and ISO 9001
• Strong understanding of environmental and occupational health and safety management standards, including ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, together with working knowledge of applicable OSHA requirements and EPA regulations
• Demonstrated experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other structured continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong…