Plant Manager

Pacific International Executive Search; Lyon; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific International Executive Search is partnering with a global manufacturing business to recruit a Plant Leader for a major site in France. You will translate industrial strategy into operational excellence and lead a 200 FTE site, delivering quality, cost and delivery improvements.

The role requires 10+ years in maintenance/engineering, strong plant leadership, and a track record of building capable teams and driving lean initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a maintenance/engineering function within manufacturing.
• Strong plant leadership experience in Industrial or Electronic manufacturing industries.
• 5+ years of management experience, including leading and developing teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employee representative bodies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a site of 200 FTE, defining and driving a continuous improvement plan.
• Assess and optimize supply chain and manufacturing processes, defining best-practice standards to improve efficiency and reliability.
• Address critical delivery and lead-time challenges, stabilizing operations to improve on-time delivery.
• Act as a key customer-facing leader, managing quality issues and strengthening long-term relationships with major accounts.
• Oversee production for key customers, ensuring quality, delivery, and performance standards.
• Redesign and right-size the plant organization for leadership depth and accountability.
• Implement lean management principles across the site for sustainable progress.
• Drive operational excellence across Quality, Cost, Performance, and Lead Times.

Skills

10+ years experience

Plant leadership

Lean manufacturing

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Pacific International Recruitment is an executive search firm with over 25 years of experience in placing specialists and executives. With our headquarters in London and additional locations in Düsseldorf and Philadelphia, we provide targeted support to our clients and candidates across EMEA, APAC, and the USA.

We have partnered with a global manufacturing business, to support their plant management and transformation goals.

The Plant Leader will lead the implementation of the industrial strategy for their established site. Holding full accountability for the performance, development, and strategic direction of this large industrial site. As a member of the Executive Management Committee, the Plant Leader will play a central role translating the company’s industrial strategy into operational excellence and sustainable business results. Championing Operational Excellence across Quality, Cost, and Delivery, while supporting growth and long‑term competitiveness of the site and wider organization.

This position suits a proven industrial leader with strong managerial skills, the ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution, and the confidence to lead a large, complex organization through performance‑driven leadership.

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee a site of 200FTE, defining and driving a continuous improvement plan.
• Assess and optimize supply chain and manufacturing processes, defining and implementing best‑practice operating standards to improve efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness.
• Address critical delivery and lead‑time challenges, stabilizing operations to prevent customer attrition and significantly improve on‑time delivery performance.
• Act as a key customer‑facing leader, managing quality issues, restoring confidence with historic customers, and strengthening long‑term relationships -particularly with major strategic accounts.
• Oversee production for key customers, including flagship programs, ensuring consistent quality, delivery, and performance standards.
• Redesign and right‑size the plant organization at senior and management levels to ensure appropriate leadership depth, accountability, and decision‑making capability.
• Implement lean management principles across the site, focusing on sustainable performance improvement rather than short‑term restructuring.
• Drive operational excellence across Quality, Cost, Performance, and Lead Times, using data‑driven performance management and continuous improvement disciplines.
• Work closely with Sales teams, ensuring transparent communication around capacity constraints, delays, and recovery plans to maintain customer trust and alignment.
• Building, developing and engaging teams, with a strong focus strengthening leadership capability and accountability throughout the organization.

Requirements and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. In lieu of a degree, additional experience may be considered.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a maintenance/engineering function, including experience within the manufacturing industry.
• Strong experience of Plant leadership within the Industrial or Electronic manufacturing industries.
• 5+ years of management experience, including demonstrated experience leading and developing team members.
• Ability to manage and effectively communicate with employee representative bodies

About Pacific International Executive Search:

Pacific International, a globally recognized retained executive search firm, is dedicated to empowering Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and high‑growth enterprises in building exceptional C‑suite, senior‑level, and strategic leadership teams while championing diversity and inclusion. Our adaptability, agility, and forward‑thinking ethos distinguish us in the ever‑evolving business landscape. Since 1997, we have been dedicated to building lasting client partnerships based on trust and reliability, and a proven track record of successful C‑suite and mid‑to‑senior‑level leadership project delivery across many key industries globally.

PACIFIC DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

At Pacific International, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and we proudly champion diversity on behalf of our clients in every Executive Search mandate we undertake. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. In pursuit of these objectives, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities.