Plant Production Manager

Client Overview: Our client is a global industrial manufacturer with operations in North America. The company is committed to technical excellence, operational reliability, and continuous improvement. To support a highly automated U.S. production facility, they are seeking a senior level Plant Production Manager to strengthen support within the plant.

Job title: Plant Production Manager (Senior Manager)

Mission: The Plant Production Manager, will play a pivotal leadership role—owning the performance, people, and continuous improvement of a key product unit. This is an opportunity to shape operations, develop high-performing teams, and drive world-class manufacturing standards in a globally recognized organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end production performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost
• Ensure products are manufactured to the highest quality standards and delivered on time
• Drive efficiency by optimizing labor, materials, energy, and equipment utilization
• Monitor and improve line performance, waste reduction, and overall productivity
• Lead, coach, and develop Shift Supervisors and production teams to achieve operational excellence
• Build a high-performance culture through engagement, accountability, and continuous feedback
• Identify training and development opportunities to strengthen team capability
• Lead and implement continuous improvement initiatives across production lines
• Identify opportunities to increase capacity, reduce waste, and improve processes
• Partner cross-functionally (Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain) to solve problems and drive innovation
• Support new projects and ensure successful execution of operational improvements
• Manage and deliver against production, maintenance, and cost budgets
• Contribute to investment planning and capital improvement initiatives
• Partner in energy and sustainability programs to reduce environmental impact
• Ensure responsible use of resources and alignment with business targets
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure full compliance with health & safety standards
• Enforce GMP and food safety requirements across all production activities
• Proactively identify risks and implement corrective actions

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, or related field
• 4–7 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Proven ability to lead teams, drive engagement, and develop talent
• Strong business acumen across operations, cost management, and resource planning
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, complex, and multicultural environment

Location: Franklin Park, IL

• Compensation target: $148,000–$198,000 base salary, plus bonus. Compensation is commensurate with experience, qualifications, and overall fit for the role
• Other information: Candidate must show proof of US citizenship/visa/alien registration. No sponsorship will be offered for this role.