Plant Manager

The Plant Manager is responsible for all aspects of operations at the assigned manufacturing plant, including safety, production, quality, engineering, maintenance, warehousing, and people. This position plans, directs, and coordinates work activities and resources to optimize manufacturing performance and achieve plant, business, and company objectives. The ideal candidate takes a hands-on approach to plant management, implements best practices, builds and develops a high-performing team, and fosters continuous improvement in safety, service, quality, cost, and people.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Responsibilities

· Ensure the plant operates in accordance with all safety, health, and environmental regulations and requirements. Provide direction and resources to achieve safety and environmental performance goals and sustain a proactive, prevention-focused safety culture.

· Build a collaborative culture that encourages trust, early escalation of concerns, teamwork, open communication, timely decision-making, and individual accountability.

· Create an environment that recognizes employee involvement, innovative thinking, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

· Lead plant sustainability efforts in support of Avient’s 2030 goals to reduce landfill waste and energy consumption.

· Ensure plant objectives and production schedules are achieved while maintaining product standards that exceed customer expectations.

· Maintain standards for product quality, equipment reliability, and production performance; use cost-effective technology to maximize production.

· Drive lean initiatives and serve as the primary advocate for a continuous improvement culture.

· Develop a plant operating plan aligned with and supportive of the annual business plan.

· Develop and manage a capital plan that supports business strategy and improves plant operations.

· Ensure achievement of the annual operating budget and other key performance indicators (KPIs).

· Manage salaried staff, providing direction and guidance to achieve plant objectives and targets.

· Coach, mentor, and train plant employees; establish career development goals and supporting plans; ensure performance reviews are completed in accordance with Avient requirements and timelines.

· Implement organizational and operational changes as necessary.

· Represent Avient in the external community, including local civic groups, regulatory agency coordination, and emergency response services.

· Maintain compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.

· Provide leadership and visibility across a multi-shift operation, including a flexible schedule as needed

· Perform other duties as assigned

Scope

Manufacturing Plant.

Other

Typically reports to Manufacturing Director or equivalent.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related technical discipline required; master’s degree in operations management, engineering, or a related field preferred.

· 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in a manufacturing facility.

· 5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience managing 25+ employees in a multi-shift operation with budgetary responsibility.

· Formal Lean and Six Sigma training, with demonstrated successful implementation in a manufacturing environment, preferred.

· OSHA certification or training preferred.

· Proven leadership skills and ability to establish a strong operational culture and drive change.

· Energetic, hands-on people leader who leads by example, builds high-performing teams, promotes urgency, and reinforces individual accountability.

· Demonstrated ability to motivate others, develop employees, and encourage talent.

· Thorough knowledge of manufacturing operations; extrusion and/or molding experience strongly preferred.

· Ability to balance collaboration with decisive action and make timely decisions amid ambiguity or uncertainty.

· Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work effectively with employees at all organizational levels, customers, and suppliers.

· Knowledge of current safety, health, and environmental regulations and standards.

· Ability to work a flexible schedule to maintain visibility and leadership across multiple shifts.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms; frequently required to walk; and occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, or hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 55 pounds. Specific vision abilities may include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee may occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical parts, toxic or caustic chemicals, fumes, or airborne particles. Noise levels range from normal office noise to loud manufacturing enviro