Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth, helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity
We’re supporting a search for a Plant Manager with a plastics manufacturing operation in New York. This role will lead the startup and ongoing operations of a brownfield facility that is being built out for injection molding production. The Plant Manager will be responsible for plant leadership, culture, production performance, budgeting, continuous improvement, and developing the team as the site prepares to launch approximately 25–30 production lines.

What You’ll Do
You’ll lead the plant through startup and into full production, with responsibility for people, operations, safety, quality, cost, and execution.

Key areas of focus include:

• Lead the startup and development of the manufacturing operation
• Manage Production, Maintenance, and Process teams
• Lead approximately 100 employees as the site develops
• Build a strong plant culture and leadership team
• Support interviewing, hiring, and training
• Oversee daily production activities and adherence to schedules
• Implement and monitor KPIs for throughput, downtime, and yield
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to meet manufacturing targets
• Ensure production objectives are achieved at the lowest cost consistent with quality requirements
• Oversee execution of manufacturing schedules based on sales requirements and plant capacity
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives
• Support commercialization of new equipment and product startups
• Approve plant purchase orders and expense reports
• Identify cost-saving opportunities across labor, materials, and energy
• Establish annual plant operating budgets and monitor performance against budget
• Support new product launches and capacity expansion projects
• Track ROI on investments
• Maintain a safe work environment and enforce EHS policies
• Lead safety audits and emergency preparedness activity
• Support food safety plans and prerequisite programs
• Ensure quality standards are established and incorporated into manufacturing practices
• Lead, mentor, and develop plant staff across departments
• Conduct performance reviews and identify training needs
• Work closely with Canadian and U.S. teams
• Travel to Canada, Germany, and other U.S. facilities as needed

Who You Are
You are a strong people leader who can build a team, communicate clearly, and create accountability without operating in a silo.

You are comfortable leading a plant startup, developing culture, managing budgets, and staying focused on day-to-day plant execution. You ask questions, collaborate across teams, and can lead through a period of significant operational growth.

Preferred Experience & Attributes
• Strong plant leadership experience
• Injection molding experience
• Plastics manufacturing experience
• Plant startup experience
• Strong team-building and communication skills
• Experience driving plant culture and accountability
• Budget and P&L exposure
• Financial acumen
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills
• Technical product and process knowledge
• Continuous improvement experience
• Safety and compliance experience
• Strategic thinking and adaptability
• University degree in Engineering or Business Administration preferred
• 10+ years of progressive management experience preferred
• Minimum 5 years as a Production Manager in plastics or food manufacturing preferred
• Experience across disciplines such as Quality, Materials, Engineering, Accounting, Sales, Development, Maintenance, or Manufacturing preferred
• Six Sigma / QOS continuous improvement experience preferred
• ISO/SKF experience preferred

Why This Role Matters
This is a startup leadership role for a new manufacturing operation that is approximately eight months from production. The Plant Manager will have a direct role in building the team, establishing culture, supporting hiring and training, and preparing the site for full-scale injection molding operations.