Plant Manager: Lean Transformation & Operational Excellence

Sealed Air; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 127,000 - 219,000; Full time

Job summary

Sealed Air is seeking a Plant Manager to lead its Hodgkins, IL manufacturing facility within the Protective Packaging division. This role carries full accountability for plant performance and serves as the senior on-site leader, driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people.

The ideal candidate is a decisive, results-oriented operations leader with a track record of transforming complex manufacturing environments, and the ability to influence across all levels

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including 3+ years as a Plant Manager or equivalent site leader.
• Demonstrated success driving operational and cultural transformation.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing plant-level P&L performance.
• Deep expertise in safety, quality systems, and operational best practices.
• Lean/Six Sigma experience (Green Belt or higher preferred).
• Strong mechanical and technical aptitude with experience optimizing industrial systems.
• Proven ability to lead in a matrixed, global organization.

Responsibilities

• Own Plant Performance: Lead all aspects of site operations with full accountability for safety, quality, service, cost, and financial results.
• Set Strategic Direction: Translate business objectives into a clear operational strategy, ensuring execution against short- and long-term goals.
• Build Organizational Capability: Develop leadership bench strength, elevate team performance, and foster a culture of accountability and engagement.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Lead Lean transformation and continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and enhance reliability.
• Lead Through Change: Champion and execute change initiatives that strengthen agility, performance, and cultural alignment.
• Ensure Safety & Compliance: Establish and sustain a zero-harm environment while maintaining regulatory and environmental compliance.
• Optimize Assets & Processes: Leverage technical expertise to improve equipment reliability, throughput, and overall plant efficiency.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Collaborate with supply chain, commercial, and finance leaders to align execution with customer and business needs.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Plant Manager

Financial acumen

Lean/Six Sigma

Job description

Sealed Air is seeking a Plant Manager to lead its Hodgkins, IL manufacturing facility within the Protective Packaging division. This role carries full accountability for plant performance and serves as the senior on-site leader, driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people.

The ideal candidate is a decisive, results-oriented operations leader with a track record of transforming complex manufacturing environments, and the ability to influence across all levels