Plant Manager

CHEP•Wilmington, MA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Plant Manager is responsible for total operations at a single-site plant and reports to the Territory Director/General Manager. The role delivers customer satisfaction and strong results across leadership, production, safety, quality, and value. It owns full plant P&L and long-term performance, translates network priorities into plant execution, and is accountable for plant-level performance results and leadership effectiveness. The Plant Manager leads site operations across production, safety, cost, quality, and service; delivers site KPIs; embeds standard operating systems and processes; and drives performance improvement, Lean and continuous improvement execution, and operational excellence. The role manages labor and capacity, oversees equipment reliability with the maintenance team, maintains site security and service-center requirements, and ensures compliance with company procedures, safety protocols, and environmental regulations. The position leads and develops plant employees and frontline leadership teams, supports talent development and succession, and fosters accountability and employee engagement. It manages teams of hourly and salaried staff, with direct and indirect scope of up to 300, and communicates with key stakeholders while representing the organization in the community.

Requirements

7–10 years of plant leadership experience in automated manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, distribution, or industrial operations.
Demonstrated ownership of site performance metrics.
Strong people leadership and employee engagement capability.
Experience leading safety, quality, cost, service, and productivity outcomes.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
Working knowledge of Lean, continuous improvement, and operational excellence, with the ability to apply basic principles to operational execution.
Financial and business acumen, or the ability to understand, interpret, and use financial information and business circumstances to drive sound decisions.
Experience in a matrixed environment and ability to deliver results with support and alignment from other organizational functions.
Ability to lead hourly and salaried staff, with direct and indirect scope of up to 300.
Strong operational execution discipline and plant-level financial ownership.
Data-driven decision-making and performance-management capability.
Working knowledge of automation and engineering environments.
Proven ability to run a stable, performing site, with a history of consistent execution and strong people leadership.
Skills listed for success include change leadership and management, coaching, collaboration, computer literacy, data analysis and literacy, delegation, disruptive thinking, feedback, inclusive leadership, leading customer-centric teams, mathematical literacy, mentorship, motivating teams, prioritization, scheduling, self-awareness, and written communication.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and be accountable for the health and safety of employees, contractors, and visitors, ensuring compliance with corporate and legislative requirements.
Improve safety performance in alignment with Brambles’ Zero Harm initiative and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Oversee equipment reliability with the maintenance team to support operational continuity and efficiency.
Ensure compliance with CHEP procedures, work instructions, and safety protocols.
Implement best practices and continuous improvement processes to optimize safety, quality, cost, and overall plant performance.
Maintain site security and meet service-center requirements, including management of storage, stock levels, and movement of materials and equipment.
Manage, lead, and develop plant staff, fostering accountability and meeting or exceeding performance expectations.
Ensure internal and external customer expectations are consistently met or exceeded through effective plant operations.
Own the plant P&L and long-term performance.
Deliver site KPIs for people, safety, quality, DIFOT, cost, and productivity.
Translate network priorities into plant execution and drive performance improvement against baseline.
Embed standard operating systems and processes, including Lean and continuous improvement execution.
Manage labor and capacity.
Build high-performing frontline leadership teams and lead talent development and succession within the site.
Communicate effectively with key stakeholders and represent the organization within the community.
Use data and financial information to support performance management and sound business decisions.