Director, Plant Engineering

Role Summary:

The Director Plant Engineering is responsible for effectively managing resources to optimize local and export supply chain performance while driving operational excellence across the facility. This role leads the implementation of capital projects, oversees site utility services (water, air, electricity, and steam), and directs key environmental and energy-saving initiatives to meet financial and sustainability goals. Sitting on the local plant leadership team, the Director plays a vital role in fostering strong cross-functional collaboration, driving continuous organizational and talent development, and maintaining positive union and community relations to deliver strategic business results.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Project Management & Leadership: Approve, direct, and oversee the execution of plant capital and engineering projects, ensuring alignment with corporate guidelines, quality standards, and budget expectations.

• Utilities & Environmental Sustainability: Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to guarantee continuous supply of critical plant utilities (water, compressed air, electricity, and steam) while leading site environmental control, energy reduction, and sustainable development initiatives.

• Operations & Continuous Improvement: Implement and sustain Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R) standards to optimize supply chain financial performance, control fixed expenses, and drive company cost-savings programs.

• Stakeholder & External Relations: Serve as a key liaison connecting plant operations with divisional and corporate leadership to streamline communication, build collaborative internal/external partnerships, maintain robust community relations, and ensure positive labor relations with unionized personnel.

• Team & Organizational Development: Lead, mentor, and establish objective-setting frameworks for the plant engineering team, fostering continuous talent development, employee engagement, and high organizational performance.

• Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Enforce strict adherence to local, state, federal, and Colgate-Palmolive standards regarding industrial safety, environmental regulation, and quality control.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related field).

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in plant engineering, facilities management, or manufacturing supply chain management.

• Experience managing directly reporting teams in an industrial or manufacturing environment.

• Advanced, fluent oral and written English communication skills.

• Proven experience in capital project management, site utilities administration, and industrial safety and quality standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturing environments.

• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated ability to manage budgets, fixed expenses, and cost-reduction/savings strategies.

• Experience in labor relations and collaborating with unionized workforces.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration and customer service orientation across matrixed organizations.

• Demonstrated alignment with Colgate-Palmolive LIFT leadership principles and Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R) methodologies.