Plant Manager

SC Johnson Professional; Denby CP, Little Eaton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Car

Medical insurance

Pension scheme (up to 6% employer)

Life assurance (4× salary)

Healthcare platform access

Enhanced parental leave policy

Free optical vouchers

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Employee benefits platform with perks

Free parking

EV charging points at Denby site

Cycle-to-work scheme

Save a Space £200 monthly prize draw

Job summary

SC Johnson Professional is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead manufacturing operations across the Denby and Little Eaton sites in the UK. You will drive safe, efficient and reliable operations, translating business priorities into operational excellence and developing high-performing teams.

In this leadership role you will manage cross-functional teams, champion continuous improvement, and shape long-term site strategy while ensuring adherence to health, safety and environmental

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading manufacturing operations in a regulated, process-based or high-risk industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance and reliability systems, Lean manufacturing, daily management routines, structured problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing budgets, driving productivity and delivering sustainable operational improvements, translating priorities into site strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe and compliant operations, ensuring UK health, safety and environmental standards are met while driving a culture of safety.
• Provide strong site leadership, aligning cross-functional teams across Operations, Maintenance, Safety, Quality, Engineering, HR and Planning.
• Drive performance across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost, Reliability and People with clear priorities and accountability.
• Deliver manufacturing excellence by ensuring production plans are safe, efficient, and reliable, managing challenges and maintaining service levels.
• Develop high-performing teams, coaching leaders and strengthening employee engagement and capability.
• Optimise maintenance and asset reliability, reduce downtime and improve equipment performance.
• Own plant financial performance, manage budgets, costs and capital expenditure while seeking efficiency gains.
• Champion continuous improvement and Lean, shaping site masterplans and investment priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Safety & compliance

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Change management

Problem-solving

Job description

SC Johnson Professional have an exciting opportunity for a Plant Manager to join the team! You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis , and in return, you will receive a competitive salary .

Location: Denby & Little Eaton

Function: Supply Chain

Internal Job Title: Manager, Manufacturing Operations

About us:

Joining the team at SC Johnson Professional makes you part of a family company with a deep history in the professional market as a leading manufacturer of skincare, cleaning and hygiene products, and smart technologies. We provide solutions to Healthcare, Clean Industrial, Industrial, Office & Institutional, Hospitality & Travel, and Retail & Entertainment markets.

SC Johnson Professional is a business unit within SC Johnson, a family-owned and led company and leading manufacturer of quality, trusted products since 1886.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary plus bonus
• Company Car
• Medical insurance
• Company pension scheme (up to 6% employer contributions)
• Life assurance (4× your salary)
• Free access to a healthcare platform offering nutritional advice, wellbeing support, and more
• Enhanced parental leave policy
• Free optical vouchers
• 28 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays
• Employee benefits platform with discounts & wellbeing perks
• Access to employee assistance programmes
• Complimentary fresh fruit & hot drinks
• Subsidised on-site canteen
• Discounted products at our staff shop
• Free parking
• EV charging points at our Denby site (powered by our own renewable electricity!)
• Cycle-to-work scheme plus bicycle storage area
• "Save a Space" £200 monthly prize draw (earn a ticket every day you car share or don't use a parking space!)
• And so much more!

About the Plant Manager role:

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and inspiring Plant Manager to lead our manufacturing operations across our Denby and Little Eaton sites.

In this key leadership role, you will be responsible for driving safe, efficient and reliable operations, delivering strong performance across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost and People.

Working closely with your site leadership team, you will translate business and supply chain priorities into operational excellence, while developing high-performing teams, strengthening site capabilities and shaping the long-term strategy for both sites.

Responsibilities as our Plant Manager:

• Lead safe and compliant operations, ensuring both sites meet UK health, safety and environmental legislation, quality standards and company requirements, while proactively managing risks and driving a strong safety culture.
• Provide strong site leadership, leading and aligning cross-functional teams across Operations, Maintenance, Safety, Quality, Engineering, HR, Planning and Logistics to deliver shared business objectives.
• Drive operational performance across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost, Reliability and People, establishing clear priorities, accountability and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Deliver manufacturing excellence, ensuring production plans are executed safely, efficiently and reliably, while proactively managing operational challenges and maintaining service levels.
• Develop and inspire high-performing teams, coaching and empowering leaders, building talent pipelines and strengthening employee engagement, capability and succession planning.
• Optimise maintenance and asset reliability, driving preventive maintenance, reducing downtime and improving equipment performance to support sustainable operational efficiency.
• Own plant financial performance, managing budgets, manufacturing costs, productivity and capital expenditure, while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and deliver sustainable cost improvements.
• Champion continuous improvement and long-term site development, embedding Lean principles, eliminating operational losses and shaping site masterplans and investment priorities to support future business needs.

Experience you'll bring as our Plant Manager:

• Proven experience leading manufacturing operations within a regulated, process-based or comparably high-risk industrial environment, with accountability for safety, quality, service, cost and operational performance.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance and reliability systems, alongside practical experience implementing and sustaining Lean manufacturing, daily management routines, structured problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, driving productivity and delivering sustainable operational improvements, with the ability to translate business priorities into effective site strategies.

Behaviours you'll need:

• Ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams, creating an inclusive, accountable and engaged workplace culture.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships, influence across functions and lead effectively through change.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, with the resilience to navigate challenges, make in