Plant Manager

Smart4 Sciences; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Smart4Sciences seeks a Senior Plant Manager to oversee operations across two manufacturing facilities in Barberton, Ohio, driving safety, quality and continuous improvement. You will lead large teams, manage union relations, and ensure both sites meet customer and financial objectives.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Operations Management with 10+ years of plant leadership experience, including unionised workforce management and ISO 9000 compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management or related field.
• 10+ years of plant/manufacturing operations leadership.
• Experience managing a unionised workforce and collective bargaining.
• Hands-on leadership across production, maintenance, quality and logistics.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA PSM and environmental compliance.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement.
• Desirable experience in specialty materials, polymers, coatings, membranes or engineered sheet products.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations across production, maintenance, quality and logistics.
• Drive safety, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Lead and develop large plant teams with accountability and high performance.
• Maintain effective labour relations and oversee unionised workforce.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA PSM and environmental regulations.
• Implement Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor throughput, OEE, scrap and downtime to boost productivity.
• Align production schedules with customer requirements for on-time delivery.
• Foster strong customer relationships through reliable quality and delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Strategic planning

Change management

Team development

Safety leadership

Continuous improvement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations Management

Tools

ISO 9000 quality system

OSHA PSM compliance

Job description

Smart4Sciences are looking to recruit a Plant Manager to oversee operations across two manufacturing facilities including in Barberton, Ohio for a leading global manufacturer within the specialty materials and industrial coatings sector. This is a senior site leadership position with responsibility for production, maintenance, quality, logistics, safety and continuous improvement, ensuring both facilities meet their operational, customer, safety and financial objectives.

The successful candidate will lead large teams, drive operational excellence and develop a strong culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement across the sites.

To be considered, you will need a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management or a related discipline, alongside 10+ years' experience managing manufacturing plant operations and large teams. Experience managing a unionised workforce, including collective bargaining, grievances and industrial relations, is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations across production, maintenance, quality and logistics.
• Ensure plants consistently achieve safety, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Lead and develop large plant teams, promoting a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Manage unionised employees and maintain effective labour and industrial relations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA PSM, environmental regulations and other applicable industry standards.
• Oversee quality systems and ensure compliance with ISO 9000 requirements.
• Drive corrective actions, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor throughput, scrap, downtime and OEE, identifying opportunities to improve productivity and reduce costs.
• Ensure production schedules support customer requirements and on-time delivery.
• Maintain strong customer relationships through consistent quality and delivery performance.
• Identify and implement plant-wide productivity and operational improvement projects.
• Coach and develop plant leadership and operational teams to achieve performance objectives.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management or a related field.
• 10+ years' experience in plant/manufacturing operations leadership.
• Proven experience managing large manufacturing teams.
• Strong experience managing a unionised workforce, including collective bargaining, grievances and industrial relations.
• Experience across production, maintenance, quality and logistics within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of OSHA PSM and environmental compliance.
• Experience with ISO 9000 quality systems.
• Demonstrated experience delivering Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement programmes.
• Experience in specialty materials, polymers, coatings, membranes, films or engineered sheet products is highly desirable.
• Experience with phosgene-derived specialty chemical products would be advantageous.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a senior, hands-on plant leadership position.