Plant Manager

CHEP USA; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEP USA is seeking a seasoned Plant Leader to drive total site operations, safety, quality, and cost across a single plant. You will lead a team of hourly and salaried staff, align with cross-functional functions, and implement standard operating systems for performance.

This role emphasizes Lean/CI and P&L ownership in a high-speed, automated environment. You will manage a diverse team and partner with maintenance, quality, and logistics to ensure customer satisfaction and operational

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of plant leadership experience in automated manufacturing, logistics, or industrial operations.
• Demonstrated ownership of site performance metrics.
• Strong people leadership and employee engagement capability.
• Experience leading safety, quality, cost, service, and productivity outcomes.
• Experience with leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Continuous Improvement, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead health and safety for all employees, contractors and visitors.
• Oversee equipment reliability and site operations for continuity and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with CHEP procedures, instructions and safety protocols.
• Drive continuous improvement to optimize plant performance (safety, quality, cost).
• Manage storage, stock levels and movement of materials and equipment.
• Develop plant staff and ensure performance expectations are met.
• Meet customer expectations through effective plant operations.

Skills

Plant leadership

Safety leadership

Lean/CI

P&L ownership

Data analysis

Team leadership

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact. What does that mean for you? You'll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You'll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You'll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description This position is responsible for total single site plant operations, reporting to the Territory Director/General Manager and delivering superior customer satisfaction by driving results and exceeding expectations in leadership, production, safety, quality and value.

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Lead and be accountable for the health and safety of all employees, contractors, and visitors, ensuring strict adherence to corporate and legislative requirements.
• Champion the continuous improvement of safety performance, aligned with Brambles' Zero Harm initiative, while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
• In collaboration with the maintenance team oversee equipment reliability across the site ensuring operational continuity and efficiency.
• Ensure full compliance with all task-specific responsibilities outlined in CHEP procedures, work instructions, and safety protocols, maintaining operational consistency.
• Drive the implementation of best practices and continuous improvement processes to optimize plant performance in areas such as safety, quality, and cost control.
• Maintain site security and ensure compliance with service center requirements, including managing storage, stock levels, and movement of materials and equipment.
• Manage, lead, and develop plant staff, fostering accountability and ensuring that all team members meet or exceed performance expectations as outlined in job descriptions and agreements.
• Ensure that customer expectations, both internal and external, are consistently met or exceeded through effective management of plant operations.

Ideal Candidate Exerience

• 7-10 years of Plant leadership experience in automated manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, distribution, or industrial operations
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Demonstrated ownership of site performance metrics
• Strong people leadership and employee engagement capability
• Experience leading safety, quality, cost, service, and productivity outcomes
• Experience with leading multi-disciplinary teams
• Working knowledge of Lean, Continuous Improvement, and operational excellence and ability to apply basic principles to operational execution
• Financial and business acumen or the ability to understand, interpret, and use financial information and business circumstances to drive sound business decisions
• Matrixed environment experience and being able to deliver results with support and alignment from other organizational functions
• Ability to lead a team of both hourly and salaried staff including Direct and Indirect scope up to 300

Scope/Accountabilities

• Full site leadership (production, safety, cost, quality, service)
• Translate network priorities into plant execution
• Own plant-level performance results and leadership effectiveness

Key Responsibilities

• Own full plant P&L and long-term performance
• Deliver site KPIs (people, safety, quality, DIFOT, cost, productivity)
• Embed standard operation systems and processes
• Drive performance improvement vs. baseline
• Build high-performing frontline leadership teams
• Drive Lean/CI execution
• Manage labor and capacity
• Lead talent development and succession within site
• Networking and representing the organization within the community
• Effective communication with all key stakeholders

Required Capabilities

• Strong operational executive & P&L ownership
• Deep operational execution discipline
• Financial ownership at plant level
• Leadership and engagement
• Data driven decision making and performance management
• Working knowledge of automation/engineering environments
• KPI's
• Safety (TIFR)
• Service (DIFOT)
• Cost per unit/productivity
• Quality
• Employee Engagement & Turnover
• Experience
• Experienced Site Leader
• Proven ability to run stable, performing site
• Strong people leader with consistent execution and history

Remote Type Not Remote

Skills to succeed in the role

• Change Leadership
• Change Management
• Coaching
• Collaboration
• Computer Literacy
• Data Analysis
• Data Literacy
• Delegation
• Disruptive Thinking
• Feedback
• Inclusive Leadership
• Leading Customer Centric Teams
• Mathematic Literacy
• Mentorship
• Motivating Teams
• Prioritization
• Scheduling
• Self-Awareness
• Written Communication

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world's biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact. What does that mean for you? You'll be at the frontline of CHEP in a busy, demanding job. Our supply chain team isn't part of our business. It's the heart of our business. And you can be the power behind it. We connect 300,000 supply chains for some of the world's biggest and best-loved brands. You'll learn new ways of working, with automation and new technology that'll help you get the job done - and work smarter. Your safety is our number one priority. The team will welcome and respect you for who you are. In return, we want you to be hands-on, roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, take responsibility and personal accountability.