Manufacturing Operations Leader – Major US packaging company
Mult-Plant Operations Manager
Lead Two High-Volume Manufacturing Operations for a Market Leader in Food Packaging
Our client is one of North America’s largest privately held manufacturers of food packaging products. For decades, the company has built its reputation on operational excellence, product quality, financial strength, and long-term stability. Its products are used every day by restaurants, convenience stores, foodservice distributors, grocery chains, and consumer brands throughout North America.
This is not a turnaround situation. This is an opportunity to join a highly successful organization with significant resources, a strong culture, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
The company is seeking a Plant Operations Manager to lead two major manufacturing operations located 1+ hour west of Philadelphia, one of the most desirable regions in the Mid-Atlantic.
Located west of Philadelphia, this area offers:
▪️ Excellent public and private schools
▪️ Affordable housing compared to most major metropolitan areas
▪️ Easy access to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and New York City
▪️ Beautiful countryside, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly communities
▪️ A strong local economy with a lower cost of living than many East Coast markets
The company offers a comprehensive relocation package that includes:
▪️ Pre-offer visits to the area
▪️ Home-finding trips
▪️ Temporary housing assistance
▪️ Household goods moving and storage
▪️ Vehicle transportation
▪️ Home sale assistance
▪️ Closing cost assistance
▪️ Lease break assistance
▪️ Relocation allowance
The Opportunity
This leadership position oversees two high-volume thermoforming manufacturing operations that produce:
▪️ Plastic foodservice lids
▪️ Polypropylene beverage cups (PPC)
These facilities operate in a 24/7 manufacturing environment and employ approximately 250 associates.
The successful candidate will be responsible for driving:
▪️ Safety performance
▪️ Quality performance
▪️ Production output
▪️ Labor efficiency
▪️ Employee engagement
▪️ Operational excellence
▪️ Continuous improvement initiatives
▪️ Cost management
▪️ Leadership development
This is a true “leader of leaders” role. You’ll lead through Production Managers, Supervisors, and Team Leads while helping develop the next generation of manufacturing leadership.
This role reports directly to the Site Manufacturing Director.
The Plant Operations Manager has responsibility for approximately 250 employees through this leadership structure.
A Unique Leadership Structure
Unlike many traditional Plant Manager positions, several major site functions remain centralized under the Manufacturing Director rather than reporting directly to this role.
These functions include:
▪️ Human Resources
▪️ Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
▪️ Plant Engineering
▪️ Maintenance
▪️ Operational Excellence Resources
The Operations Manager partners closely with these groups but is not responsible for directly managing them. This allows the position to remain heavily focused on manufacturing execution and operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
▪️ Lead two large thermoforming manufacturing operations
▪️ Develop and mentor Production Managers and Supervisors
▪️ Improve employee engagement and organizational culture
▪️ Drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance
▪️ Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives
▪️ Improve operational performance and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
▪️ Utilize data and analytics to drive decision-making
▪️ Strengthen accountability systems and execution discipline
▪️ Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and EHS teams
▪️ Develop and execute strategic improvement plans
▪️ Lead operational turnaround and performance improvement initiatives when needed
What We’re Looking For
Successful candidates will typically bring:
▪️ Experience leading manufacturing organizations with 200+ employees
▪️ Experience managing managers and supervisors
▪️ Strong leadership and coaching skills
▪️ Lean Manufacturing experience
▪️ Continuous Improvement expertise
▪️ Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
▪️ Experience improving culture, engagement, and accountability
▪️ Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments
Industry experience may come from:
▪️ Thermoforming
▪️ Plastics Manufacturing
▪️ Packaging Manufacturing
▪️ Food Packaging
▪️ Injection Molding
▪️ Blow Molding
▪️ Extrusion
▪️ Consumer Products Manufacturing
▪️ Food or GMP-regulated manufacturing environments
Compensation and Benefits
▪️ Base salary up to approximately $200,000
▪️ Target bonus opportunity of 20%
▪️ Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
▪️ Company pays more than 80% of healthcare premiums for employees and families
▪️ 401(k) program with company match and additional company retirement contributions. Employees contributing 5% can receive up to a 4% company match, plus an additional discretionary company contribution currently set at 2.5%.
▪️ Full relocation assistance
▪️ Long-term career growth within a large, financially strong manufacturing organization
Contact info:
Founded by Dan Regovich in 2009, AJ Augur Group Plastics Search and Recruitment has become a prominent name in the plastics headhunting industry. We fill difficult positions in the plastics industry for companies throughout the United States.
Because your company is unlike any other, we will take the time to discuss the details of your current opening and your company’s culture.
This will allow us to find someone who has the proper skill set and will also fit into your company’s environment. Learn more about our advanced search process, and contact us today.
At AJ Augur, we play a vital role in guiding candidates through the job search process within the plastics industry. We address these common questions candidates ask plastics recruiters with transparency and clarity, providing honest insights about the challenges and opportunities of each role. Doing so helps candidates make informed decisions while building trust and establishing positive candidate experiences.
Click HERE for Dan’s latest article in Plastics News
440-357-7600
dregovich@ajaugur.com
Manufacturing Operations Leader – Major US packaging company