Plant Manager

CREO GROUP•Sardis, MS

7d•$130,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Manager is the senior operational leader responsible for the overall performance, profitability, safety, and culture of CREO Group’s Sardis, Mississippi manufacturing facility — a high-volume, 24/7 plastics injection molding operation totaling approximately 200,000 square feet. This role carries full P&L ownership and accountability for all aspects of plant operations including production performance, labor management, cost control, quality, maintenance, inventory, customer service, safety, and employee engagement. The Plant Manager is expected to operate as the business leader for the site, driving operational excellence while building a high-performance, accountability-based culture aligned with CREO’s values and strategic objectives. This is a critical turnaround and transformation leadership opportunity requiring a strong, hands-on manufacturing executive capable of leading a complex operation with urgency, discipline, and strategic focus. The successful candidate will deliver measurable improvements in throughput, OEE, scrap reduction, labor efficiency, customer service, safety performance, and overall financial results while developing a sustainable operational culture that supports long-term growth. The ideal candidate will bring deep plastics manufacturing expertise, preferably within injection molding environments, and possess proven success leading large-scale, multi-shift manufacturing operations in fast-paced industrial settings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related technical field required
Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in plastics manufacturing, injection molding, blow molding, or similar high-volume industrial operations
Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-shift manufacturing operations with full P&L responsibility
Demonstrated success improving operational performance within complex manufacturing environments
Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational turnaround initiatives
Experience managing large hourly workforces in a 24/7 manufacturing environment required
Strong hands-on manufacturing leadership style with high operational visibility and engagement
Proven ability to drive accountability and execution in fast-paced manufacturing environments
Excellent financial acumen and understanding of manufacturing cost drivers
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
Ability to influence and lead change across all levels of the organization
Excellent communication and leadership presence
High sense of urgency with strong organizational and prioritization skills
Ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational execution
Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence

Nice To Haves

preferably within injection molding environments

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and direction for a 24/7 manufacturing operation producing high-volume plastic injection molded products
Ensure safe, efficient, and profitable operation across all shifts, departments, and functional areas
Establish disciplined operational management systems including KPI reviews, production accountability processes, shift communication routines, and escalation protocols
Drive significant improvements in throughput, machine utilization, OEE, scrap reduction, downtime, labor productivity, and schedule attainment
Lead capacity planning, staffing optimization, and operational readiness to support customer demand and business growth
Partner closely with engineering, maintenance, and supply chain functions to maximize equipment uptime and operational reliability
Maintain full responsibility for plant P&L performance including labor, materials, overhead, conversion costs, inventory, and contribution margin
Develop and execute annual operating budgets, forecasts, and productivity plans
Drive aggressive cost reduction and operational efficiency initiatives while maintaining safety and quality standards
Analyze operational and financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement
Partner with finance leadership to deliver accurate forecasting, variance analysis, and financial reporting
Ensure disciplined inventory management and working capital control
Champion a world-class safety culture with zero-injury expectations across all levels of the organization
Lead all plant safety initiatives in partnership with Environmental, Health & Safety leadership
Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, regulatory, and company standards
Drive accountability for safe work practices, incident prevention, corrective actions, and employee engagement in safety programs
Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation
Maintain strong housekeeping, 5S, and facility standards throughout the operation
Build, coach, and develop a high-performing plant leadership team focused on accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement
Create a performance-driven culture that emphasizes teamwork, urgency, communication, and operational discipline
Recruit, retain, and develop strong operational talent across salaried and hourly teams
Provide direct leadership and performance management for all department leaders
Address performance issues decisively and consistently while reinforcing company values and expectations
Promote positive employee relations and engagement throughout the facility
Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across all functional areas
Drive waste elimination, process optimization, labor efficiency, and standardization initiatives
Identify and implement automation, process improvements, and operational best practices
Execute capital projects, equipment upgrades, and facility improvement initiatives
Establish metric-driven accountability systems and visual management processes throughout the plant
Ensure consistent product quality and compliance with customer specifications
Drive rapid root-cause identification and corrective action implementation for quality concerns
Partner with commercial and customer service teams to support customer satisfaction and on-time delivery performance
Maintain strong internal and external customer relationships through operational execution and responsiveness