Plant Manager

SkyWater Search Partners; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SkyWater Search Partners is seeking an Operations Leader to oversee a North Philadelphia-based paperboard converting facility. You will manage production, maintenance, shipping, safety, and inventory across two shifts while driving performance improvements.

The role suits a hands-on plant leader who builds systems, leads experienced teams, and boosts operational metrics in a dynamic manufacturing environment. On-site position with a large, unionized workforce.

Qualifications

• Experience in paper or packaging converting environments.
• Experience leading a plant or operations in manufacturing.
• Experience managing unionized workforces.
• Background in Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong leadership to drive change with long-tenured teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, shipping, safety, and inventory management
• Develop supervisors and operational leaders across two shifts
• Oversee sheeting and slitting converting operations to ensure quality, throughput, and efficiency
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean or Six Sigma methodologies
• Partner with sales leadership to ensure operational execution aligns with customer demand
• Drive operational metrics including waste reduction, productivity improvements, and safety performance
• Support implementation of operational frameworks and future systems modernization initiatives

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Leadership

Change management

Safety leadership

Job description

Skywater is recruiting an Operations Leader to oversee plant operations for a North Philadelphia-based paperboard converting facility. This leader will manage all operational functions including production, maintenance, shipping, safety, and inventory while driving operational improvements across a two-shift workforce.

This role is ideal for a hands-on plant leader who enjoys building systems, leading experienced teams, and improving operational performance in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

You’ll oversee a team of roughly 50 union employees across 2 shifts with 4 direct reports in roughly a 500k sq ft facility.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, shipping, safety, and inventory management
• Manage and develop supervisors and operational leaders across two production shifts
• Oversee sheeting and slitting converting operations to ensure quality, throughput, and efficiency
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean or Six Sigma methodologies
• Partner with sales leadership to ensure operational execution aligns with customer demand
• Drive operational metrics including waste reduction, productivity improvements, and safety performance
• Support implementation of operational frameworks and future systems modernization initiatives

Desired Skills And Experience

• Experience in paper, paperboard, packaging converting, or related manufacturing environments
• Prior plant or operations leadership experience within a manufacturing facility
• Experience managing unionized workforces
• Background in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to drive change and build credibility with long-tenured teams