Plant Manager

Location: Sardis, MS - Manufacturing Plant Reports To: Vice President - Manufacturing

Direct Reports: Full plant leadership team including Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Warehouse/Logistics, and administrative support

Employment Type: Full-time/Salaried, Exempt

Remote/Hybrid/In-Office: On-Site

Travel: Minimal occasional travel to other CREO Group locations and leadership meetings

Relocation: Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Position Overview

The Plant Manager is the senior operational leader responsible for the overall performance, profitability, safety, and culture of CREO Group's Sardis, Mississippi manufacturing facility - a high-volume, 24/7 plastics injection molding operation totaling approximately 200,000 square feet.

This role carries full P&L ownership and accountability for all aspects of plant operations including production performance, labor management, cost control, quality, maintenance, inventory, customer service, safety, and employee engagement. The Plant Manager is expected to operate as the business leader for the site, driving operational excellence while building a high-performance, accountability-based culture aligned with CREO's values and strategic objectives.

This is a critical turnaround and transformation leadership opportunity requiring a strong, hands-on manufacturing executive capable of leading a complex operation with urgency, discipline, and strategic focus. The successful candidate will deliver measurable improvements in throughput, OEE, scrap reduction, labor efficiency, customer service, safety performance, and overall financial results while developing a sustainable operational culture that supports long-term growth.

The ideal candidate will bring deep plastics manufacturing expertise, preferably within injection molding environments, and possess proven success leading large-scale, multi-shift manufacturing operations in fast-paced industrial settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & 24/7 Manufacturing Oversight
• Provide overall leadership and direction for a 24/7 manufacturing operation producing high-volume plastic injection molded products
• Ensure safe, efficient, and profitable operation across all shifts, departments, and functional areas
• Establish disciplined operational management systems including KPI reviews, production accountability processes, shift communication routines, and escalation protocols
• Drive significant improvements in throughput, machine utilization, OEE, scrap reduction, downtime, labor productivity, and schedule attainment
• Lead capacity planning, staffing optimization, and operational readiness to support customer demand and business growth
• Partner closely with engineering, maintenance, and supply chain functions to maximize equipment uptime and operational reliability

Full P&L Ownership & Financial Management

• Maintain full responsibility for plant P&L performance including labor, materials, overhead, conversion costs, inventory, and contribution margin
• Develop and execute annual operating budgets, forecasts, and productivity plans
• Drive aggressive cost reduction and operational efficiency initiatives while maintaining safety and quality standards
• Analyze operational and financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement
• Partner with finance leadership to deliver accurate forecasting, variance analysis, and financial reporting
• Ensure disciplined inventory management and working capital control

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Champion a world-class safety culture with zero-injury expectations across all levels of the organization
• Lead all plant safety initiatives in partnership with Environmental, Health & Safety leadership
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, regulatory, and company standards
• Drive accountability for safe work practices, incident prevention, corrective actions, and employee engagement in safety programs
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation
• Maintain strong housekeeping, 5S, and facility standards throughout the operation

Leadership Development & Culture

• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing plant leadership team focused on accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement
• Create a performance-driven culture that emphasizes teamwork, urgency, communication, and operational discipline
• Recruit, retain, and develop strong operational talent across salaried and hourly teams
• Provide direct leadership and performance management for all department leaders
• Address performance issues decisively and consistently while reinforcing company values and expectations
• Promote positive employee relations and engagement throughout the facility

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across all functional areas
• Drive waste elimination, process optimization, labor efficiency, and standardization initiatives
• Identify and implement automation, process improvements, and operational best practices
• Execute capital projects, equipment upgrades, and facility improvement initiatives
• Establish metric-driven accountability systems and visual management processes throughout the plant

Quality & Customer Performance

• Ensure consistent product quality and compliance with customer specifications
• Drive rapid root-cause identification and corrective action implementation for quality concerns
• Partner with commercial and customer service teams to support customer satisfaction and on-time delivery performance
• Maintain strong internal and external customer relationships through operational execution and responsiveness

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related technical field required
• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in plastics manufacturing, injection molding, blow molding, or similar high-volume industrial operations
• Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-shift manufacturing operations with full P&L responsibility
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance within complex manufacturing environments
• Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational turnaround initiatives
• Experience managing large hourly workforces in a 24/7 manufacturing environment required

Core Competencies

• Strong hands-on manufacturing leadership style with high operational visibility and engagement
• Proven ability to drive accountability and execution in fast-paced manufacturing environments
• Excellent financial acumen and understanding of manufacturing cost drivers
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Ability to influence and lead change across all levels of the organization
• Excellent communication and leadership presence
• High sense of urgency with strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational execution
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence

Work Environment

This position operates within a manufacturing environment with regular exposure to moving mechanical equipment, forklifts, elevated noise levels, heat, and varying temperatures. Required personal protective equipment (PPE) includes safety glasses, hearing protection, and safety footwear.

The Plant Manager must maintain a visible floor presence and routinely engage directly with production teams across all shifts.