Plant Manager

Avient • Avon Lake, OH

7d

About The Position

The Plant Manager is responsible for all aspects of operations at the assigned manufacturing plant, including safety, production, quality, engineering, maintenance, warehousing, and people. The role plans, directs, and coordinates work activities and resources to optimize manufacturing performance and achieve plant, business, and company objectives. The ideal candidate takes a hands-on approach to plant management, implements best practices, builds and develops a high-performing team, and fosters continuous improvement in safety, service, quality, cost, and people.

The position leads a multi-shift manufacturing operation, maintains compliance with applicable requirements, and represents Avient in the external community. It typically reports to the Manufacturing Director or equivalent.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in a manufacturing facility.
• At least 5 years of manufacturing leadership experience managing 25 or more employees in a multi-shift operation with budgetary responsibility.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to establish a strong operational culture and drive change.
• Energetic, hands-on people leader who leads by example, builds high-performing teams, promotes urgency, and reinforces individual accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate others, develop employees, and encourage talent.
• Thorough knowledge of manufacturing operations.
• Ability to balance collaboration with decisive action and make timely decisions amid ambiguity or uncertainty.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work effectively with employees at all organizational levels, customers, and suppliers.
• Knowledge of current safety, health, and environmental regulations and standards.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to maintain visibility and leadership across multiple shifts.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in operations management, engineering, or a related field.
• Formal Lean and Six Sigma training, with demonstrated successful implementation in a manufacturing environment.
• OSHA certification or training.
• Extrusion and/or molding experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure plant operations comply with safety, health, and environmental regulations and requirements, and provide direction and resources to achieve related performance goals and sustain a proactive safety culture.
• Build a collaborative culture that supports trust, early escalation, teamwork, open communication, timely decision-making, and individual accountability.
• Encourage employee involvement, innovative thinking, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Lead plant sustainability efforts supporting Avient’s 2030 goals to reduce landfill waste and energy consumption.
• Achieve plant objectives and production schedules while maintaining product standards that exceed customer expectations.
• Maintain standards for product quality, equipment reliability, and production performance, using cost-effective technology to maximize production.
• Drive lean initiatives and advocate for a continuous improvement culture.
• Develop a plant operating plan aligned with and supportive of the annual business plan.
• Develop and manage a capital plan that supports business strategy and improves plant operations.
• Achieve the annual operating budget and other key performance indicators.
• Manage salaried staff and provide direction and guidance to achieve plant objectives and targets.
• Coach, mentor, and train plant employees; establish career development goals and supporting plans; and ensure performance reviews are completed in accordance with Avient requirements and timelines.
• Implement organizational and operational changes as necessary.
• Represent Avient in the external community, including local civic groups, regulatory agency coordination, and emergency response services.
• Maintain compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Provide leadership and visibility across a multi-shift operation, including working a flexible schedule as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager