Plant Manager - DR

Polo Custom Products•Topeka, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Manages all plant operations including production, office administration, logistics, maintenance, quality, safety, and compliance, while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and successfully establishing and scaling operations in an international manufacturing environment. In addition to typical plant leadership responsibilities, this role is accountable for startup execution, cross-border coordination, regulatory compliance, workforce development & communication, and cost-effective offshore operations.

Requirements

10+ years of plant management experience in manufacturing environment.
Experience managing international or multi-site manufacturing operations preferred.
Experience with startup or greenfield plant launches strongly preferred.
Exposure to global supply chain and cross-border logistics.
Strong financial and operational management capability.
Bilingual (fluent in English & Spanish) with effective communication in both languages.
Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement expertise.
Leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Cross-cultural leadership and workforce engagement.
Knowledge of international labor practices and regulatory environments.
Experience with import/export logistics and customs processes.
Ability to operate effectively with remote leadership and decentralized teams.
Fluency in Spanish (preferred) or ability to operate effectively through translation resources.
Strong adaptability and resilience in dynamic, developing operational environments.
High accountability with ability to operate independently in offshore setting.
Performs prolonged computer work requiring sustained visual focus.
Communicates regularly (written and verbal) with internal and external stakeholders via phone, email, and in person.
Moves throughout the facility frequently, including walking, bending, reaching, and crouching.
The ability to stand or sit for extended periods throughout the workday while remaining attentive.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or other related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as a positive role model consistent with Polo’s corporate culture at all times.
Manages plant operations across production, shipping/receiving, maintenance, quality, and safety.
Coordinates plant activities with supervisors and leadership to meet manufacturing objectives and drive continuous improvement.
Develops and administers plant budget, controlling labor, freight, and operational costs.
Establishes and improves plant performance, profitability, and operational metrics.
Leads, develops, and motivates the workforce to ensure customer satisfaction and long-term sustainability.
Implements safety, training, preventative maintenance, and 5S initiatives.
Implements and sustains 5S and other shop floor organization standards to ensure a clean, orderly, and consistently visitor-ready facility.
Maintains working knowledge of core manufacturing processes including industrial sewing, film/fabric welding (RF, impulse, ultrasonic, thermal contact), thermoforming, cutting, screen printing, assembly, and inspection to ensure process capability, labor efficiency, product quality, effective equipment selection, and workforce training.
Ensures compliance with regulated manufacturing requirements including process validation, ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 standards, PPAP/FAI requirements, and GMP practices; establishes and maintains documentation, controls, and audit readiness across all applicable product lines and processes.
Community minded and involved, as required by our corporate mission statement.
Lead plant launch activities including hiring, facilities build-out, equipment & cleanroom installation, process validation, and ramp-up execution.
Coordinate with COO & CFO on timeline, capital deployment, and readiness milestones.
Establish standard operating procedures aligned with Polo’s domestic plant best practices.
Ensure compliance with Dominican labor laws, tax regulations, Free Trade Zone requirements, and environmental standards.
Manage relationships with local government authorities, regulatory bodies, and service providers.
Oversee import/export activities, customs processes, and trade compliance.
Build and lead a management staff and direct labor workforce, including recruitment, onboarding, and training programs.
Coordinate with InfoTep to develop custom training programs to meet Polo’s needs.
Work closely with HR Manager to translate corporate culture and performance expectations into a cross-cultural environment.
Develop management staff bench strength to support long-term scalability.
Leverage DR cost structure to improve labor efficiency and overall product cost competitiveness against Polo’s competition in DR and around the world.
Monitor productivity, labor utilization, and scrap rates to meet corporate margin targets.
Identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives specific to offshore operations.
Coordinate production planning and scheduling with U.S.-based Sales and Procurement teams.
Assist Topeka-based Logistics Manager with Dominican Republic logistics including inbound materials and outbound finished goods.
Mitigate risks related to transportation, lead times, and geopolitical factors.
Serve as a member of Polo Custom Products’ Executive Team and be the primary liaison between Dominican Republic operations, Polo’s domestic Plant Managers, and the COO.
Provide regular updates on production, financial performance, staffing, and operational risks.
Align plant performance with corporate KPIs and 2026 strategic objectives.
Assist COO and CFO with developing an operating budget for 2027.
Identify and mitigate risks related to labor stability, infrastructure, utilities, and political environment.
Ensure business continuity planning for Dominican operations.
Other duties as assigned.