Plant Manager

Ice River Sustainable Solutions; Dundalk; On-site; CAD 136,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainable solutions company in Ontario is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee manufacturing performance and daily operations. This role requires a leader with a strong understanding of production processes, maintenance systems, and quality assurance. The ideal candidate will have 4–6 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, promoting safety, efficiency, and innovation while driving continuous improvement. Competitive salary range between $100K and $115K offered, along with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading plant-level operations with accountability for results.
• Strong knowledge of production processes, maintenance systems, quality standards, and warehouse operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead all daily plant operations to ensure production targets are achieved.
• Oversee maintenance strategy to maximize equipment uptime and reliability.
• Champion quality standards and ensure products meet or exceed requirements.
• Oversee warehouse operations, inventory accuracy, and space utilization.

Skills

Leadership

Operational discipline

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Team-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Overview

The Plant Manager is accountable for the overall performance of the manufacturing facility, providing leadership across production, maintenance, quality, and warehouse operations. This role requires a forward-thinking, ambitious leader who combines strong operational discipline with out-of-the-box thinking, a visionary mindset, and a passion for innovation and research & development to continuously advance plant performance.

The Plant Manager is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality operations while also challenging existing processes, supporting product and process development, and driving initiatives that move the business forward. This role balances day-to-day operational execution with longer-term improvement, capability building, and sustainable growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all daily plant operations to ensure production targets are achieved safely, on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Translate production plans into effective schedules, staffing models, and resource allocation.
• Maintain strong floor presence and operational visibility to ensure consistency, accountability, and engagement.
• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Oversee maintenance strategy and execution to maximize equipment uptime, reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance programs are in place and effective.
• Lead and develop the maintenance team to strengthen technical capability and proactive problem-solving.
• Drive root cause analysis and permanent corrective actions for recurring downtime or equipment failures.

Quality Assurance & R&D Enablement

• Champion quality standards and ensure products meet or exceed customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.
• Partner with QA and R&D teams to support trials, new product introductions, material changes, and process development.
• Use production and quality data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement and innovation.
• Foster a culture where experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement are encouraged within defined controls.

Warehouse & Inventory Management

• Oversee warehouse operations, inventory accuracy, and space utilization.
• Ensure efficient material flow to support production and timely distribution to customers.
• Collaborate with logistics and supply chain partners to maintain service levels and minimize disruptions.
• Lead, coach, and develop all plant team members, including supervisors and frontline leaders.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular reviews, and provide ongoing feedback.
• Build a high-engagement plant culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and respect.
• Encourage initiative, innovation, and ownership at all levels of the plant.
• Continuously assess plant processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase throughput.
• Drive improvement initiatives using data, CI tools, and innovative thinking.
• Challenge the status quo and introduce new ways of working, technologies, and best practices.
• Actively contribute ideas that support plant scalability, cost competitiveness, and long-term growth.
• Monitor and report on plant KPIs, including safety, production, quality, labour efficiency, and inventory.
• Manage the plant operating budget and identify opportunities for cost savings and reinvestment.
• Ensure resources are deployed effectively to meet operational and business priorities.

Education, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field (preferred).
• 4–6 years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment; plastics or process manufacturing experience is an asset.
• Proven experience leading plant-level operations with accountability for results.
• Strong knowledge of production processes, maintenance systems, quality standards, and warehouse operations.
• Visionary and innovative mindset, with a demonstrated interest in R&D, process development, and continuous improvement.
• Ambitious, results-driven leader who is comfortable challenging conventional thinking.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Experience with manufacturing systems and SAP considered an asset.
• Knowledge of environmental sustainability practices in manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations and compliance requirements.

$100-115K/year

Please let Ice River Sustainable Solutions know if you require accommodation during the hiring and selection process and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements. Ice River Sustainable Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, we welcome applications from women, racially visible individuals, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ2S+ persons.

Note to Recruiting Agencies: Ice River Sustainable Solutions does not respond to unsolicited emails from third party recruiters acting on behalf of job seekers. All candidates are encouraged to create their own online profile, allowing us to reference resumes effectively and advise when opportunities match your knowledge and skills. Any profiles created by recruiters on behalf of job seeking candidates will be deleted. This practice threatens future interactions between third party recruiters and Ice River Sustainable Solutions recruitment.