Plant Area Manager

Position Overview

The Plant Area Manager provides daily leadership to ensure safe, high‑quality, and efficient production across assigned manufacturing zones. This role sets clear expectations for Area Managers, drives operational consistency, and supports the achievement of mid‑range production goals.

A central focus of the Plant Area Manager is developing strong, capable leaders. This includes coaching team members, building bench strength, and fostering a culture grounded in accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Plant Operations Leadership — Directs daily plant activities, ensuring smooth, efficient, and reliable operations across all production areas.

• Culture & Values Stewardship — Models company values and integrates them into decision‑making, communication, and team interactions.

• Quality & Safety Improvement — Leads and supports initiatives that elevate product quality and strengthen workplace safety.

• Production Goal Achievement — Drives efforts to meet monthly production targets, identifies performance barriers, and implements corrective actions.

• Housekeeping & Accountability — Establishes clear housekeeping expectations and ensures a clean, organized, and compliant facility.

• Union Collaboration — Builds productive relationships with union leadership and resolves issues collaboratively.

• Team Development & Coaching — Develops direct reports through coaching, feedback, and structured development plans, including monthly one‑on‑one meetings.

• Daily Production Review — Reviews daily performance with the Production Manager, addressing issues and recognizing achievements.

• Safety Coordination — Partners with the Safety Manager to address concerns and implement improvements.

• Cross‑Department Collaboration — Works with Estimating and Design teams to refine production routings and improve workflow accuracy.

• Employee Relations — Oversees training, development, performance evaluations, and disciplinary processes for plant employees.

• Strategic & Capital Planning — Participates in strategic planning and capital improvement initiatives; collaborates on supply and equipment purchasing decisions.

• Additional Responsibilities — Performs other duties as assigned by the Production Manager.

Qualifications

• Education — BA or BS in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field preferred.

• Experience—5–10 years of relevant operational or manufacturing leadership experience.

• Leadership & People Development — Proven ability to mentor, motivate, empower, and hold teams accountable.

• Commitment to Safety & Quality — Strong dedication to maintaining high safety standards and consistent product quality.

• Strategic Execution — Ability to translate strategic plans into actionable goals and daily operational execution.

• Analytical & Abstract Thinking — Skilled at identifying improvement opportunities and solving complex operational challenges.

• Sound Judgment & Communication — Demonstrates strong listening skills, thoughtful responses, and effective decision‑making.

• Prioritization & Multitasking — Capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced production environment.

• Industry Knowledge — Experience in the corrugated or paper industry preferred, or the ability to quickly learn industry‑specific processes and equipment.