Assistant Manager, Plant

US_ORB_4000 ORBIS Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Menasha Corporation is seeking an Assistant Plant Manager to lead a multi-site production operation in the United States. The role focuses on safety, quality, and efficiency while supporting cost objectives and continuous improvement initiatives.

You will act as Plant Manager in their absence and drive union relations and staff development. Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) and 5–8 years of relevant experience, with 3–5 years in leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred.
• 5–8 years of relevant work experience with 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience in plastics manufacturing and welding/fabrication is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage operations across a multi-site campus.
• Lead day-to-day plant operations and ensure safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
• Drive OEE improvement initiatives and remove barriers to equipment performance and throughput.
• Monitor and improve Direct Labor Efficiency through workforce optimization.
• Lead daily production meetings, escalation processes, and action item follow-up.
• Ensure EH&S, environmental and quality requirements are met.
• Direct, coach, and develop supervisors and team leaders.
• Support union labor relations, investigations, contract administration, attendance management, and progressive discipline.
• Lead root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Assist with multi-site collaboration and deployment of best practices across ORBIS facilities.
• Serve as acting Plant Manager when assigned.

Skills

Operations leadership

OEE improvement

Multi-site leadership

Safety & EH&S

Employee development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Job description

ABOUT US (AND OUR EXCITING FUTURE)

Menasha Corporation is all about possibilities. Our two businesses, Menasha Packaging and ORBIS Corporation, are leaders in their industries, providing corrugated and plastic packaging products and related services to major global companies. Our employees make the difference, proving that great ideas, collaboration and quality turn possibilities into success. Working at Menasha Corporation means that your insights provide cutting-edge solutions for our customers. If you like to make things happen and are passionate about what you do, you’re going to want to be here. Join us and become part of the power behind possible.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Assistant Plant Manager is responsible for supporting a multi-site operation, with a primary focus on production performance, mold change operations, employee safety, quality, scrap reduction, and supervisor development. This role provides day-to-day leadership to the production department, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are consistently achieved while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement. The Assistant Plant Manager serves as a key member of the plant leadership team and acts as the Plant Manager’s designee in their absence.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage operations across a multi-site campus.
• Lead day-to-day plant operations and ensure performance against safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives.
• Drive OEE improvement initiatives and remove barriers to equipment performance and throughput.
• Monitor and improve Direct Labor Efficiency (DLE) through workforce optimization and operational discipline.
• Lead daily production meetings, escalation processes, and action item follow-up.
• Ensure compliance with all EH&S, environmental, customer, and quality requirements.
• Direct, coach, and develop supervisors and team leaders.
• Support union labor relations, grievance investigations, contract administration, attendance management, and progressive discipline.
• Lead root cause analysis activities using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Assist with multi-site collaboration and deployment of best practices across ORBIS facilities.
• Serve as acting Plant Manager when assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND OUTCOMES

• Safety metrics
• Quality metrics
• Delivery metrics
• P& L metrics
• Production metrics
• Employee engagement

EDUCATION/Certification Level

• Bachelor’s Degree #ORBIS Level
• Master’s Degree

Work Experience Required

• 5-8 years of relevant work experience
• 3-5 years of leadership experience, including salary direct reports

Desired Experience

• 5-10 years of experience in plastics manufacturing
• 5-10 years of experience in a welding and/or fabrication environment

Union Leadership Experience

• Travel Requirements 5% - 20% travel

Company Overview

Two companies, one vision. Menasha Corporation consists of two companies that are leading the way to a sustainable future with packaging and supply chain solutions. Founded in 1849 and headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, we employ over 7,500 employees in 112 facilities in North America and Europe.

Our companies are leading corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturers and supply chain solution providers. Our Menasha Packaging Company is the largest independent provider of packaging and supply chain service solutions in North America, designing, printing, and fulfilling graphic packaging, display and merchandising solutions for over 1,800 brands, both in-store and online. Our ORBIS business believes there is a better way to optimize today’s supply chains, with reusable packaging products and services.

Reusable containers, pallets, dunnage, bulk systems and metal racks improve the flow product all along the supply chain to reduce costs, enhance profitability and add sustainability.

Our products and services are used by global, name-brand companies in the food, beverage, health and beauty, over-the-counter pharmaceutical, industrial, automotive, and electronics industries. Come build an exciting, rewarding career with us, where you’ll have opportunities to grow. The possibilities are endless. The power is yours!

Company Culture

Our culture, based on a history of family ownership, encourages employees to create, collaborate, support communities, and build meaningful careers. We believe there’s strength in diversity and that our people are the power behind possible. Equity, inclusion and diversity, workplace safety, and sustainability are values that are woven into the fabric of everything we do.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Menasha Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will be provided with equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or genetic information.