Plant manager

About the role

The client is a privately-held specialty chemicals manufacturer seeking a Plant Manager for a large and profitable site. The role involves rebuilding the leadership bench, owning the full financial picture, leading HSE and regulatory compliance, and navigating labor relations.

Responsibilities

• Rebuild the Leadership Bench: Recruit, coach, and develop department heads across maintenance, quality, supply chain, and technical functions.
• Own the Full Financial Picture: Drive the annual budgeting cycle, defend capital investment requests, and report site performance monthly to company leadership.
• Lead HSE and Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with OSHA PSM and EPA RMP regulations, including risk assessment methods.
• Navigate Labor Relations: Engage daily with hourly employees, participate in labor-management and joint safety committees, and be involved in future contract negotiations.
• Grow the Business: Partner with sales and commercial teams to fill capacity and position the site for future product and chemistry investment.

Requirements

• Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent technical background with experience in specialty or batch chemicals.
• Experience operating in and ideally negotiating within a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM) and RMP-regulated operations, including risk assessment methods.
• Demonstrated financial and commercial acumen: P&L or site-level margin ownership, budgeting, and capital project justification.
• A track record of building, developing, or significantly strengthening a leadership team.

Qualifications

• Manufacturing leadership experience in specialty or batch chemicals, or a closely related process industry.
• Experience as a chemist, chemical engineer, or equivalent technical/operational path through a chemical plant.
• Comfortable being the final word on compliance and safety.
• See gaps in a team as an opportunity, not a burden.
• Boot-on-the-floor role, every week, in every department.

Skills

• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Effective leadership and team-building skills.
• Experience with HSE and regulatory compliance.
• Unionized manufacturing environment experience.
• Process Safety Management (PSM) and RMP-regulated operations expertise.

Benefits

The role offers a competitive base salary plus an annual bonus target, commensurate with the scope of leading a flagship site in the client's manufacturing network. Full compensation details will be shared with qualified candidates as the process progresses.

Pay

Competitive base salary plus an annual bonus target, commensurate with the scope of leading a flagship site in the client's manufacturing network.

Schedule

Full-time position.