Plant Manager

TH Daniels Global Executive Search & Selection have partnered with a leading flexible packaging and paperboard packaging manufacturer to recruit a Plant Manager for their manufacturing operation in the Greater Chicago Area.

This is a high-impact site leadership role, with overall responsibility for the operational performance, profitability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement of the plant. The successful candidate will bring strong manufacturing leadership experience, ideally within flexible packaging, paperboard packaging, folding cartons, labels, paper converting, or a similarly process-driven packaging environment, combined with a proven track record of leading teams, improving operational performance, and driving profitable growth.

To be considered for the role you must meet the following requirements:

• Proven experience in a Plant Manager, Site Manager, Operations Manager, or similar senior manufacturing leadership position.
• Experience within flexible packaging, paperboard packaging, folding cartons, labels, paper converting, or a comparable manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and packaging production processes.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering operational improvements, cost reductions, waste reduction, and productivity gains.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing budgets, costs, and site performance.
• Excellent understanding of Health & Safety and regulatory compliance within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and operational excellence initiatives.

Key Responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day performance and strategic direction of the manufacturing plant.
• Lead and develop a multi-functional site team, creating a high-performing, accountable, and continuous improvement-focused culture.
• Own site performance across safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, and profitability.
• Drive continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize plant performance.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure customer requirements are consistently achieved.
• Develop and execute strategies to improve plant throughput, efficiencies, quality performance, and overall customer satisfaction.
• Ensure production plans and customer demand are met whilst maintaining the highest standards of quality, service, and safety.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant Health & Safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Support business growth initiatives through operational readiness, capacity planning, and continuous investment in people and processes.

This is a pivotal leadership position within a growing organization, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to take full ownership of a key manufacturing site, lead a multi-functional team, and make a significant impact on operational performance, profitability, and long-term business growth.

• Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to each applicant individually. If you do not hear back within 2 weeks, please assume your application was unsuccessful.