Plant Manager

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long‑term Relationships. We connect high‑performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

We’re partnering with a paperboard and paper‑based packaging manufacturer seeking a Plant Manager in Solon, OH. This is a senior plant leadership role in a complex, unionized folding carton manufacturing environment. The facility operates 24/7 with around 200 employees and includes sheeting, printing, laminating, cutting, and finishing operations. The Plant Manager will have full operational ownership of the facility, including safety, quality, production, cost, labor relations, culture, KPIs, throughput, waste, and financial performance.

This role is a strong fit for a seasoned plant leader with full P&L ownership, strong financial acumen, and experience leading change in a union manufacturing environment.

You’ll lead the overall direction and performance of the plant with responsibility for operations, people leadership, financial performance, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Key areas of focus include:

• Lead all plant operations across sheeting, printing, laminating, cutting, and finishing
• Manage and direct department managers and plant staff
• Develop operating plans and establish objectives for productivity, quality, cost control, and scheduling
• Own plant KPIs, metrics, throughput, waste, cost, margin, and performance results
• Lead full P&L ownership for a $50M+ manufacturing operation
• Drive budget, forecasting, cost, and margin management
• Coordinate plant, division, and corporate resources to resolve material, process, and production issues
• Partner with HSE leadership to support safety programs, training, and compliance
• Ensure annual operating plans are developed and budget deviations are addressed
• Direct plant departments to support high‑quality products and customer specifications
• Improve production efficiency, scrap rates, product quality, and operational performance
• Support Six Sigma, LEAN, 5S, and continuous improvement programs
• Provide leadership and direction to plant personnel
• Promote positive labor relations and consistent application of company policies
• Support food safety, food defense, GMP, sanitation, SQF, and quality procedures
• Lead culture change and help build stronger accountability across the facility
• Work to strengthen relationships and communication in a union environment

You are a seasoned plant leader with strong operational and financial ownership.

You know how to lead in a complex manufacturing environment, build accountable leadership teams, and drive sustained performance. You are hands‑on, visible, and comfortable stepping into a plant where culture change is an important part of the opportunity.

You would do well here if you are a strong communicator, a steady change agent, and someone who can make headway in a union environment while improving throughput, speed, accountability, and overall plant performance.

• 8+ years of relevant manufacturing leadership experience
• Proven plant leadership experience required
• Solid history in Plant Manager roles preferred
• Full P&L ownership experience in a $50M+ manufacturing operation
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, cost, and margin management
• Experience leading in a unionized manufacturing environment
• Experience developing accountable leadership teams
• Packaging, paper, printing, or folding carton experience preferred
• Similar manufacturing industry experience considered
• Strong understanding of KPIs, metrics, throughput, waste, and plant performance
• Strong management, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Foresight, creativity, urgency, and strong organizational skills
• Business acumen, curiosity, tenacity, influence, negotiation skills, and results orientation
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field preferred, but not required

This role matters because the Solon facility is a large, complex, and important manufacturing operation with an opportunity to strengthen culture, leadership, and performance. The Plant Manager will be responsible for driving results across safety, quality, production, cost, labor relations, and continuous improvement. This is a strong opportunity for a proven plant leader who can bring stability, improve accountability, and lead a culture turnaround in a high‑volume folding carton environment.