Senior Plant Manager

Wavin; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wavin, part of Orbia’s Building & Infrastructure business, seeks a Senior Plant Manager to drive site performance and empower teams to deliver outstanding operational results. You will shape direction, influence outcomes, and ensure safety, efficiency and top-quality output.

You will lead the Site Management Team, champion a zero-accident culture, and develop a long-term strategy to build a world-class operations environment while managing budgets and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related field.
• Proven experience leading in automation-heavy and unionized manufacturing environments.
• Strong track record in safety, quality, and cost management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct all site operations to meet output, cost, and quality targets.
• Champion a zero-accident safety culture across the site.
• Develop and execute a long-term strategy to build a world-class operations environment.
• Manage and coach the Site Management Team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Drive year-on-year cost reduction through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee operational budgets and ensure efficient resource utilization.
• Maintain full compliance with quality systems, procedures, and industry standards.
• Lead employee engagement initiatives and foster strong union relationships.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers.

Skills

Leadership

Safety culture

Cost management

Operations excellence

Union relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Job description

About Wavin Orbia Building & Infrastructure Business:

What if your work could improve how water moves, how cities adapt, and how buildings perform every day? At Wavin, Orbia’s Building & Infrastructure business, this is what we do. Count on a warm welcome, where purpose comes to life. Here, we take responsibility for each other and our company, stay brave in pursuing innovation, and embrace diversity in perspectives, skills and talents. We encourage our employees to develop their talents and become the best version of themselves. Working as a strong team, we grow and advance life around the world. You will join an international, professional team and benefit from a competitive compensation package.

About the role

As our Senior Plant Manager, you will be the driving force behind our site’s performance — leading, inspiring, and empowering teams to deliver outstanding operational results. Acting as a key leader on site, you’ll shape direction, influence outcomes, and ensure our plant operates safely, efficiently, and at the highest level of quality. In this role, you will:

• Lead and direct all site operations to meet output, cost, and quality targets


• Champion a zero-accident safety culture across the site


• Develop and execute a long-term strategy to build a world-class operations environment


• Manage and coach the Site Management Team, fostering a high-performance culture


• Drive year-on-year cost reduction through continuous improvement initiatives


• Oversee operational budgets and ensure efficient resource utilization


• Maintain full compliance with quality systems, procedures, and industry standards


• Lead employee engagement initiatives and foster strong union relationships


• Build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related field.


• Proven experience leading in automation-heavy and unionized manufacturing environments


• Strong track record in safety, quality, and cost management


• Experience negotiating with trade unions and managing complex site dynamics


• High-level financial and commercial acumen, including budget ownership


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills


• Ability to engage, develop, and align teams toward shared goals


• Comfortable navigating fast-paced, high-performance environments


• Skilled at balancing strategic vision with practical execution

Our Offer:

Wavin, Orbia’s Building & Infrastructure business, is an innovative solutions provider for the global building and infrastructure industry. Backed by more than 70 years of product development experience, we advance life around the world by ensuring safe and efficient water supply, sanitation and hygiene, climate-resilient cities, and better building performance. Wavin has over 10,000 employees across more than 40 production sites worldwide, serving customers in over 80 countries through a global sales and distribution network. Our key commercial brands are Wavin, Amanco Wavin, Pavco Wavin, and Plastigama Wavin.

Wavin, Orbia’s Building & Infrastructure business is committed to inclusive hiring. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, background, sexual orientation, disability or any other characteristic.