Plant Operations Senior Manager

The Clorox Company; Wheeling (IL); On-site; USD 109,000 - 259,000; Full time

Job summary

The Clorox Company in Wheeling, IL is seeking an Operations Senior Manager to lead manufacturing operations at the Hidden Valley Ranch plant. You will build capability, drive improvement, and deliver strong business results while reporting to the Plant Manager.

You will partner with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Logistics, Safety, and CI to enhance Safety, Quality, Service, Cost, and People through talent development and organizational change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or equivalent leadership experience.
• 10+ years in industrial manufacturing with 5+ years leading teams in CPG or related sectors.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead People & Build Capability: create ownership culture and develop frontline leaders and hourly staff.
• Drive Operational Excellence: optimize safety, quality, service, and cost with standard work and visual management.
• Shape the Future of the Plant: develop site strategy, annual plans, and capability roadmaps.
• Partner Across the Business: align across Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, and CI teams.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

Talent development

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Lean/Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Supply Chain/Business

Tools

SAP EWM

SAP S/4

Job description

Wheeling, IL - USA

Full time

23158

Clorox is the place that’s committed to growth - for our people and our brands. Guided by our purpose and values, and with people at the center of everything we do, we believe every one of us can make a positive impact on consumers, communities, and teammates. Join our team. #CloroxIsThePlace (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=cloroxistheplace&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7079847624048001024)

Your role at Clorox

In this role, you will be key member of the Plant Leadership Team, responsible for leading manufacturing operations, developing people, and delivering strong business results at our Hidden Valley Ranch plant. Reporting to the Plant Manager, you will lead multiple production teams while building the capabilities, culture, and systems needed to support the plant’s long-term success.

The Operations Senior Manager partners closely with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Logistics, Safety, Supply Chain, and Continuous Improvement to improve performance across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost, and People. This role combines day-to-day operational leadership with a strong focus on talent development, continuous improvement, and organizational change.

In this role, you will

Lead People & Build Capability

• Create a culture of ownership, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of frontline leaders and hourly employees.
• Drive talent development, succession planning, performance management, and workforce capability growth.
• Develop future leaders through coaching, mentorship, stretch assignments, and structured development opportunities.
• Champion inclusion, collaboration, and employee engagement while fostering a positive, high-performance work environment.
• Lead change effectively by aligning teams around business priorities and helping employees successfully navigate transformation initiatives.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve strong Safety, Quality, Service, and Cost performance.
• Drive improvements in equipment effectiveness, labor productivity, waste reduction, material yield, schedule attainment, and equipment reliability.
• Lead structured problem-solving and loss-elimination efforts to improve operational performance and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Implement and sustain standard work, visual management, and operational excellence practices across the manufacturing organization.
• Use data, analytics, and digital tools to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve decision-making.
• Ensure manufacturing operations consistently comply with regulatory, environmental, food safety, and company standards.

Shape the Future of the Plant

• Partner with the Plant Leadership Team to develop and execute site strategy, annual business plans, and long-term capability roadmaps.
• Lead key transformation initiatives that support both short-term results and long-term business growth.
• Provide leadership and operational readiness support for capital projects, new technologies, and network investments.
• Collaborate with internal and external technical experts to support innovation, process improvements, and manufacturing capability development.
• Recommend operational investments that improve safety, capacity, quality, reliability, and financial performance.
• Serve as a key contributor to site planning, risk management, and strategic decision-making.

Partner Across the Business

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, Safety, Supply Chain, and Continuous Improvement teams to improve end-to-end business performance.
• Drive alignment across functions to ensure resources, priorities, and execution plans support plant objectives.
• Lead operational reviews and performance discussions using metrics and insights to drive accountability and results.
• Ensure transparency of key performance indicators while escalating risks and opportunities as needed.

What we look for

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field, or equivalent leadership experience in manufacturing.
• At least 10 years of experience in industrial manufacturing environments, including a minimum of 5 years leading teams within the CPG industry; cross-functional experience across areas such as Production, Supply Chain, Planning, or related functions is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of SAP EWM, SAP S/4.
• Proven track record of leading teams, developing talent, and delivering business results.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and organizational change.
• Experience using operational metrics and performance management systems to drive results.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Total Productive Maintenance, World Class Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies preferred.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

#Li-Onsite

Workplace type

On-site

Our values-based culture connects to our purpose and empowers people to be their best, professionally and personally.

We serve a diverse consumer base which is why we believe teams that reflect our consumers bring fresh perspectives, drive innovation, and help us stay attuned to the world around us. That’s why we foster an inclusive culture where every person can feel respected, valued, and fully able to participate, and ultimately able to thrive. Learn more (https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/responsibility/thriving-communities/empowering-our-employees-to-thrive/) .

[U.S.]Additional Information

At Clorox, we champion people to be well and thrive, starting with our own people. To help make this possible, we offer comprehensive, competitive benefits that prioritize all aspects of wellbeing and provide flexibility for our teammates’ unique needs. This includes robust health plans, a market-leading 401(k) program with a company match, flexible time off benefits (including half-day summer Fridays depending on location), inclusive fertility/adoption benefits, and more.

We are committed to fair and equitable pay and are transparent with current and future teammates about our full salary ranges. We use broad salary ranges that reflect the competitive market for similar jobs, provide sufficient opportunity for growth as you gain experience and expand responsibilities, while also allowing for differentiation based on performance. Based on the breadth of our ranges, most new hires will start at Clorox in the first half of the applicable range. Your starting pay will depend on job‑related factors, including relevant skills, knowledge, experience and location. The applicable salary range for every role in the U.S. is based on your work location and is aligned to one of three zones according to the cost of labor in your area.

$131,200 - $258,500

$120,300 - $237,000

$109,400 - $215,500

All ranges are subject to change in the future. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

This job is also eligible for participation in Clorox’s incentive plans, subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and policies.

Who we are.

We champion people to be well and thrive every single day. We’re proud to be in every corner of homes, schools, and offices -making daily life simpler and easier through our beloved brands. Working with us, you’ll join a team of passionate problem solvers and relentless innovators fueled by curiosity, growth, and progress. We relish taking on new, interesting challenges that allow our people to collaborate and thrive at work. And most importantly, we care about each other as multifaceted, whole humans. Join us as we reimagine what’s possible and work with purpose to make a difference in the world.

This is the place where doing the right thing matters.

Doing the right thing is the compass that guides every decision we make—and we’re proud to be globally recognized and awarded for our continuous corporate responsibility efforts. Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The Clorox Company and its Foundation prioritize giving back to the communities we call home and contribute millions annually in combined cash grants, product donations, and cause-marketing. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com and follow us on social media at @CloroxCo.

Our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity.

We seek out and celebrate diverse backgrounds and experiences. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, a desire to bring your best, and a nonstop drive to keep growing and learning. Learn more about our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship (IDEA) journey here (https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/company/idea/).

The Clorox Company and its subsidiaries are an EEO/AA/Minorities/Women/LGBT/Protected Veteran/Disabled employer. Learn more to Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights/6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) .

Clorox is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans during the hiring and interview process. If you need assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] . Please note: this inbox is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions/application statuses.

The Clorox Company and its subsidiaries are an EEO/AA/ Minorities/Women/LGBT/Protected Veteran/Disabled employer.