Plant Director

Ontario Trillium Foundation; Camden (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Trillium Foundation seeks a Plant Director to lead our on-site manufacturing facility with a focus on people, culture, and performance. You will build strong teams, mentor leaders, and uphold a safe, accountable work environment.

You will partner with functional leaders to align operations with business goals, champion continuous improvement, and ensure engagement across all shifts to sustain high performance and safety.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing or operations.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Demonstrated success in driving culture, engagement, and organizational effectiveness.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily plant operations to meet production, quality, and delivery objectives.
• Align plant performance with company goals through clear expectations and metrics.
• Promote a continuous improvement mindset and engage employees in problem-solving.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Communication

Culture building

Employee engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Engineering/related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Plant Director is responsible for leading the overall operation of the facility with a strong emphasis on people leadership, culture, and organizational performance. This role drives results through building high-performing teams, developing frontline and leadership talent, and fostering a safe, engaged, and accountable work environment. This role partners closely with functional leaders to align operational execution with business goals while ensuring employees are supported, developed, and empowered to succeed. The Plant Manager plays a critical role in shaping both the culture and performance of the operation. Success in this role is defined not only by operational results, but by the strength of the team, the engagement of employees, and the sustainability of leadership practices built within the plant

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership & Culture

• Champion a culture of safety, respect, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of supervisors and managers to build leadership capability at all levels.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives that improve retention, morale, and overall workplace satisfaction.
• Ensure consistent application of company values, policies, and fair employment practices.
• Partner with HR to support talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning.

Team Development & Organizational Effectiveness

• Build and sustain a strong leadership pipeline through coaching, mentoring, and development planning.
• Identify organizational gaps and implement structure, roles, and processes to support growth and efficiency.
• Foster open communication and transparency across all levels of the plant.
• Lead change management efforts tied to business transformation, growth, or operational improvements.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily plant operations to ensure production, quality, and delivery objectives are met.
• Align plant performance with company goals through clear expectations, metrics, and accountability.
• Promote a continuous improvement mindset, engaging employees in problem-solving and process enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with supply chain, engineering, quality, and HR to ensure alignment and effective execution.
• Act as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and business decisions.
• Build strong relationships across the organization to drive collaboration and shared success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing or operational environment.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Demonstrated success in driving culture, engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading through organizational change or transformation.
• Background in multi-shift manufacturing environments.
• Experience partnering closely with HR on talent and culture initiatives.

Leadership Competencies

• People-first leadership mindset
• Emotional intelligence and strong coaching capability
• Accountability and results orientation
• Effective communication and transparency
• Ability to lead through change and ambiguity

Work Environment

This role is based on site in a 24/7 manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction with employees across all shifts and departments.