Plant Manager

Universal Beauty Products•Glendale Heights, IL

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading the strategic direction and daily execution of all manufacturing operations within a beauty and personal care production environment. This role ensures the efficient production of high-quality products in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), regulatory standards, and customer requirements. The Plant Manager drives operational excellence across Production, Shipping, Receiving, Inventory Control, Maintenance, Facilities, and Sanitation, while maintaining a strong partnership with Quality Control. This position plays a critical leadership role in optimizing production performance, ensuring audit readiness (including ISO/GMP expectations), and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and employee engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field required.
Minimum 10+ years of plant or production leadership experience, preferably in beauty, cosmetics, or personal care manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of GMP, FDA regulations, and quality systems in a regulated manufacturing environment.
Strong leadership and team development skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams.
Proven expertise in Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience supporting audits (ISO, GMP, customer audits) and maintaining compliance systems.
Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and data-driven decision-making tools.
Knowledge of EHS/OSHA standards and commitment to safety.
Ability to analyze data and drive operational improvements.
Strong leadership and team development skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated leadership skills in team development, change management, and organizational effectiveness.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee all manufacturing operations, including production, maintenance, safety, and sanitation, in compliance with GMP and regulatory standards.
Collaborate with the CEO to develop annual budgets, capital plans, KPI targets, and production strategies while controlling expenses within guidelines.
Ensure optimal staffing levels to meet production goals while minimizing overhead and material costs.
Translate corporate strategy into actionable departmental initiatives and drive execution through team engagement.
Lead Production, Maintenance, Shipping/Receiving, and Supply Chain teams to achieve operational targets aligned with safety and quality standards.
Partner with Quality to ensure compliance, product integrity, audit readiness, and adherence to SOPs.
Identify and implement process improvements to increase productivity, reduce waste, and minimize scrap and rework.
Establish and maintain production standards to ensure consistent output and efficiency.
Drive lean manufacturing initiatives to improve setup times, equipment uptime, and overall operational efficiency.
Reduce costs through continuous improvement in processes, materials, equipment usage, and energy management.
Hold teams accountable for performance, providing regular feedback on productivity, quality, and improvement opportunities.
Lead capital and facility projects, including equipment installation, plant layout changes, and major repairs.
Ensure full compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, as well as company policies.
Provide regular updates to senior leadership on plant performance, challenges, and improvement initiatives.
Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across all departments.
Other duties assigned per upper management as necessary.