Career Opportunity
Plant Manager
Category
Manufacturing
Location
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Salary
$150,000 - $225,000
Job Reference
252445
Plant Manager
Title: Plant Manager
Company: Manufacturing Group
Location: Tewksbury, MA area
Reports to: CEO
Direct reports: Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Warehouse/Shipping leaders
About the Company
Our client is a manufacturer in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts that produces high-quality, value-added, hand-crafted products.
They have roughly 400 employees in the US and a workforce that spans down the East Coast, but the majority of the workforce is in MA.
The Opportunity
The Plant Manager owns the day-to-day performance of the company's Massachusetts production facility, with full accountability for safety, quality, output, cost, and people. This is a hands-on, on-the-floor leadership role in a fast-paced, high-mix, labor-intensive operation.
The right leader will bring structure and discipline to the plant while keeping the craftsmanship and customer responsiveness that set the business apart. You will partner closely with the executive team, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Sales, and Supply Chain, and you will play a visible role in executing the value creation plan.
Key Responsibilities
Safety and Operations
- Lead a strong safety culture with clear accountability, training, and incident prevention; drive OSHA compliance and reduce recordables
- Ensure full compliance with regulations and standards
- Maintain control, sanitation, and traceability standards across all lines
Operations and Performance
- Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly production plans that meet customer service, on-time-in-full, and quality targets
- Own plant KPIs, including yield, labor productivity, throughput, OEE, scrap/giveaway, and cost.
- Manage a high-SKU, customized product mix with frequent changeovers and short lead times
- Partner with Supply Chain and Sales on capacity planning, scheduling, and new product launches
Cost and Financial Management
- Build and manage the plant operating budget and labor model; identify and deliver cost savings
- Recommend and execute capital projects, including automation and equipment that reduce labor dependency
Continuous Improvement
- Embed lean manufacturing tools (5S, standard work, root cause analysis, visual management, tiered daily huddles) in partnership with the Continuous Improvement function
- Use data to identify losses and drive sustainable improvements in yield and efficiency
People and Culture
- Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of supervisors and leads across multiple shifts
- Attract, train, and retain a diverse hourly workforce; build bench strength and succession
- Communicate clearly and visibly on the floor; set a tone of respect, ownership, and teamwork
Maintenance and Facility
- Oversee preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and facility upkeep to minimize downtime
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- 8+ years of manufacturing experience, including 3+ years as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or Production Manager with full P&L or plant-level accountability
- Proven track record of improving safety, yield, labor productivity, and cost in a high-mix, labor-intensive environment
- Hands-on lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience
- Ability to work on-site north of Boston, MA
Preferred
- Experience in a high-growth company
- Experience introducing automation into a manual or semi-automated operation
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt; certification
- Bilingual English/Spanish or experience leading a multilingual workforce
Leadership Profile and First-Year Success
What we're looking for in the leader
- Floor-first: visible, approachable, and present on every shift
- Accountable and data-driven: sets clear expectations and measures results
- A builder of people who develops supervisors into leaders
- Calm and decisive in a fast-moving, customer-driven environment
- Comfortable with the pace and expectations of PE ownership
What success looks like in the first 12 months
- Measurable improvement in safety and performance
- A consistent daily management system with KPI boards and tiered huddles in place
- Documented gains in yield, labor productivity, and on-time delivery
- A stable, engaged supervisory team with reduced hourly turnover
- A prioritized capital and automation roadmap aligned with leadership
Plant Manager
Title: Plant Manager
Company: Manufacturing Group
Location: Tewksbury, MA area
Reports to: CEO
Direct reports: Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Warehouse/Shipping leaders
About the Company
Our client is a manufacturer in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts that produces high-quality, value-added, hand-crafted products.
They have roughly 400 employees in the US and a workforce that spans down the East Coast, but the majority of the workforce is in MA.
The Opportunity
The Plant Manager owns the day-to-day performance of the company’s Massachusetts production facility, with full accountability for safety, quality, output, cost, and people. This is a hands-on, on-the-floor leadership role in a fast-paced, high-mix, labor-intensive operation.
The right leader will bring structure and discipline to the plant while keeping the craftsmanship and customer responsiveness that set the business apart. You will partner closely with the executive team, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Sales, and Supply Chain, and you will play a visible role in executing the value creation plan.
Key Responsibilities
Safety and Operations
- Lead a strong safety culture with clear accountability, training, and incident prevention; drive OSHA compliance and reduce recordables
- Ensure full compliance with regulations and standards
- Maintain control, sanitation, and traceability standards across all lines
Operations and Performance
- Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly production plans that meet customer service, on-time-in-full, and quality targets
- Own plant KPIs, including yield, labor productivity, throughput, OEE, scrap/giveaway, and cost.
- Manage a high-SKU, customized product mix with frequent changeovers and short lead times
- Partner with Supply Chain and Sales on capacity planning, scheduling, and new product launches
Cost and Financial Management
- Build and manage the plant operating budget and labor model; identify and deliver cost savings
- Recommend and execute capital projects, including automation and equipment that reduce labor dependency
Continuous Improvement
- Embed lean manufacturing tools (5S, standard work, root cause analysis, visual management, tiered daily huddles) in partnership with the Continuous Improvement function
- Use data to identify losses and drive sustainable improvements in yield and efficiency
People and Culture
- Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of supervisors and leads across multiple shifts
- Attract, train, and retain a diverse hourly workforce; build bench strength and succession
- Communicate clearly and visibly on the floor; set a tone of respect, ownership, and teamwork
Maintenance and Facility
- Oversee preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and facility upkeep to minimize downtime
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- 8+ years of manufacturing experience, including 3+ years as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or Production Manager with full P&L or plant-level accountability
- Proven track record of improving safety, yield, labor productivity, and cost in a high-mix, labor-intensive environment
- Hands-on lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience
- Ability to work on-site north of Boston, MA
Preferred
- Experience in a high-growth company
- Experience introducing automation into a manual or semi-automated operation
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt; certification
- Bilingual English/Spanish or experience leading a multilingual workforce
Leadership Profile and First-Year Success
What we’re looking for in the leader
- Floor-first: visible, approachable, and present on every shift
- Accountable and data-driven: sets clear expectations and measures results
- A builder of people who develops supervisors into leaders
- Calm and decisive in a fast-moving, customer-driven environment
- Comfortable with the pace and expectations of PE ownership
What success looks like in the first 12 months
- Measurable improvement in safety and performance
- A consistent daily management system with KPI boards and tiered huddles in place
- Documented gains in yield, labor productivity, and on-time delivery
- A stable, engaged supervisory team with reduced hourly turnover
- A prioritized capital and automation roadmap aligned with leadership
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