Plant Manager

Plastics & Packaging Manufacturing | West of St. Louis, MO
Relocation Assistance Provided

A well-established plastics and packaging manufacturing company is seeking a strong operational leader to serve as Plant Manager at its facility located west of St. Louis. This role will lead a 200-person manufacturing plant
, driving safety, operational excellence, financial performance, and team development.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced manufacturing professional who thrives in a fast-paced production environment and is passionate about building strong teams and delivering results.

The Plant Manager is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure the facility meets performance, safety, quality, and financial objectives. This role oversees all plant operations, people leadership, cost control, capital planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Ensure a comprehensive plant-wide safety program is implemented and followed
• Lead accident and incident investigations and ensure corrective actions are executed
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all safety standards, policies, and procedures

• Provide strategic oversight to meet operational and financial objectives
• Develop and execute business strategies that support profitability and long-term growth
• Establish, monitor, and align plant goals using key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Understand market dynamics, competitive landscape, and customer expectations
• Collaborate with stakeholders on optimization and continuous improvement projects
• Lead and develop a team of supervisory and management staff across a 200-person facility
• Foster a culture centered on safety, quality, continuous improvement, and high performance
• Promote teamwork, accountability, and employee engagement
• Conduct formal and informal performance evaluations and coaching conversations
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization

• Ensure appropriate budgeting for safety equipment, tools, and training
• Monitor and manage inventory levels
• Champion cost control initiatives, including labor, overtime, fixed and variable costs
• Manage capital expenditures and equipment investments
• Review and analyze operational reports to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, or a related field preferred (equivalent experience considered)
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing leadership role
• Prior experience in the plastics industry strongly preferred
• Strong troubleshooting skills with a focus on safety and operational reliability
• Demonstrated leadership ability with a collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills
• Experience with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Ability to build trust, influence stakeholders, and drive results in a production environment