Plant Manager

Role Summary:

The Plant Manager is a senior manufacturing leader responsible for the overall performance of plant operations within an industrial production environment. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), this role oversees production, maintenance, safety, quality, and cost performance.

The Plant Manager provides direct leadership to the Production Manager and Maintenance Manager, ensuring alignment between output, asset reliability, and operational priorities. The role is accountable for preparing accurate executive and board‑level operational reports, providing insights to support strategic decision‑making while driving operational excellence and strong team performance across the plant.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & People Management

·        Provide strategic and day‑to‑day leadership for all plant operations in alignment with organizational objectives.

·        Lead, mentor, and develop managers, supervisors, and plant staff to build a high‑performing and engaged workforce.

·        Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.

·        Motivate teams to consistently deliver operational excellence, quality results, and strong collaboration.

Production & Operations Management

·        Ensure production targets are met or exceeded while maintaining quality and efficiency standards.

·        Plan, coordinate, and optimize production schedules, manpower, and resources.

·        Identify operational risks or bottlenecks and implement timely corrective actions.

·        Drive initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and control operating costs.

Maintenance & Asset Management

·        Oversee plant maintenance activities to ensure equipment reliability and minimal downtime.

·        Partner with maintenance leadership to support preventive maintenance programs and timely repairs.

·        Review and recommend equipment upgrades, replacements, or process improvements as needed.

Safety, Health & Compliance

·        Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations and standards.

·        Promote and enforce a strong safety‑first culture across all plant operations.

·        Lead investigations and corrective actions for safety incidents or operational concerns.

Financial & Performance Management

·        Develop, manage, and monitor the plant operating and capital budgets.

·        Review financial and operational reports to identify improvement opportunities.

·        Establish, monitor, and act on key performance indicators (KPIs) to track plant performance.

Continuous Improvement

·        Lead continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives across operations.

·        Encourage innovation, best practices, and adoption of new technologies or processes.

·        Use data and performance trends to drive sustainable improvements.

Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

·        Work closely with internal departments including Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, HR, and Sales.

·        Coordinate with customers, suppliers, and external partners to resolve issues and support delivery commitments.

·        Ensure production requirements and timelines are clearly communicated and aligned.

Additional Responsibilities

·        Support inventory management and stock‑taking activities as required.

·        Develop, implement, and maintain plant policies, procedures, and work standards.

·        Ensure compliance with internal policies and applicable regulations.

·        Perform other duties as required to support plant operations.

Education

·        Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.

·        Master’s degree in Production Engineering, Operations Management, or an MBA is an asset.

Experience

·        Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment.

·        Proven experience managing production and maintenance operations.

·        Demonstrated experience leading teams in a unionized environment is an asset.

·        Strong background in production planning, preventive maintenance, and operational performance management.

Leadership & Competencies

·        Strong ability to lead teams, motivate performance, and drive excellence and teamwork.

·        Excellent problem‑solving, decision‑making, and organizational skills.

·        Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels.

·        Experience managing budgets, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.

·        Proficiency with manufacturing systems and operational planning tools (e.g., ERP systems).