Plant Manager

Overview

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 privately owned, rapidly expanding plastics manufacturer that has undergone a significant operational transformation over the past few years. What was once a smaller operation has evolved into a multi-plant manufacturing environment with major investments in new equipment, expanded product lines, and facility growth—all while maintaining an owner-led, hands-on culture.

This Plant Manager role exists because of sustained growth, recent expansions, and the need to elevate day-to-day execution as the business scales. With new presses online, additional equipment on order, and ISO certification on the horizon, the organization is at an inflection point where disciplined leadership, strong people development, and operational rigor matter more than ever.

The environment is fast-paced, production-driven, and grounded in accountability. Success here comes from being present on the floor, understanding plastics processing fundamentals, and building the capability of a largely green workforce. This opportunity is well-suited for a hands-on, people-first leader who brings structure, clarity, and momentum without over engineering the process.

• Lead daily plant operations across injection molding and blow molding, ensuring consistent output, quality, and uptime.

• Spend meaningful time on the production floor—coaching, training, and developing teams to raise capability and confidence.

• Establish discipline around scheduling, preventive maintenance, and downtime to improve OEE and reduce unplanned interruptions.

• Evaluate current processes and metrics, then implement practical improvements that drive efficiency, waste reduction, and reliability.

• Partner closely with Production, Maintenance/Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and ownership to align priorities and execution.

• Hold teams accountable to clear goals while creating an environment where people can grow and take ownership.

• Use data and analytics to diagnose issues, solve problems, and support better decision-making.

• Support ongoing expansions, equipment integration, and system development as the company continues to scale.

• Prepare the operation for upcoming ISO certification by reinforcing process adherence and consistency.

You’re a steady, resilient leader who understands that strong plants are built through people, not just machines. You balance hands-on engagement with the ability to step back, assess metrics, and set direction. You’re comfortable in non-corporate environments where ownership is visible, expectations are high, and progress matters.

You thrive in situations where teams are eager but inexperienced—and you take pride in training, mentoring, and passing on what you’ve learned. You don’t hoard knowledge for job security; you build others up and measure success by how well the operation runs without you in the weeds.

• Experience in plastics manufacturing, with a strong preference for injection molding; packaging experience (particularly pails) is highly valued.

• Understanding of processing fundamentals, including cycle times, downtime drivers, and thin-wall injection molding.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop hourly and salaried teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Comfort working with KPIs, OEE, and operational metrics to drive performance.

• Background that reflects progression through operations—someone who has “worked their way up” and understands the floor.

• Bachelor’s degree is not required, but technical or operational education is beneficial.

• A grounded, disciplined leader who balances urgency with stability and precision.

• Strong people skills; recognized more for leadership and coaching than being the most technical processor in the room.

This Plant Manager directly influences the company’s ability to scale successfully. Your leadership will shape how people are trained, how systems mature, and how performance improves across two growing plants. You’ll work closely with ownership and senior leaders at a time of expansion, integration, and potential future transaction activity.

The impact is tangible: better uptime, stronger teams, reduced waste, and a plant culture built for long-term success. With major investments already made and more ahead, this role is central to turning growth into sustainable results.

This is a long-term, permanent opportunity within a growing, owner-led organization that values autonomy, accountability, and progress. The foundation is built. The next chapter depends on the right leader to take it to the next level.