Plant Director
Plastic Extrusion Industry based in Port Coquitlam
Job Summary
The Plant Director provides strategic and operational leadership for plant activities, including production, logistics, machine shop operations, tool and product development, quality, and technical collaboration. The position is responsible for achieving operational performance objectives aligned with customer demand, business goals, regulatory requirements, and company standards. The Plant Director will drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, cost control, productivity, and sustainable business growth while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, quality, and customer responsiveness.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership:
- Lead all plant operations, including production, machine shop, logistics, warehousing, and distribution activities.
- Ensure performance targets are achieved across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, profitability, and customer service.
- Optimize plant capacity, equipment utilization, workforce planning, and resource allocation to meet current and future business demands.
- Identify and implement initiatives focused on process improvement, productivity, waste reduction, and operational efficiency.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented when targets are not met.
Production, Supply Chain & Technical Collaboration:
- Oversee product development, tooling, supply chain, and logistics functions to ensure plant capabilities align with customer requirements and market demand.
- Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities to effectively balance production schedules, inventory levels, capacity, resources, and customer service requirements.
- Collaborate on customer projects, new product introductions, tooling solutions, material selection, process development, and technical improvements.
- Work closely with Engineering, Sales, Quality, Supply Chain, and other functional teams to support successful product launches and operational execution.
- Serve as a senior operational partner to internal and external stakeholders on matters affecting plant performance, customer requirements, and delivery commitments.
People Leadership:
- Lead, coach, develop, and hold department managers and plant teams accountable for achieving operational objectives.
- Build and maintain a culture focused on operational excellence, accountability, collaboration, customer responsiveness, continuous improvement, and adherence to company standards.
- Develop effective workforce planning, training, communication, succession planning, and employee engagement strategies.
- Identify leadership and development opportunities to strengthen organizational capability and support future business growth.
- Promote a safe, respectful, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.
Financial & Strategic Planning:
- Develop and execute plant strategic plans that support business growth, capacity expansion, automation, equipment upgrades, productivity, and operational excellence.
- Manage plant budgets, operating costs, capital expenditures, and productivity initiatives in alignment with overall business objectives.
- Monitor plant financial and operational performance, including cost, productivity, profitability, and resource utilization.
- Use data-driven analysis to identify risks, opportunities, and corrective actions that improve overall business performance.
- Partner with senior leadership to develop long-term operational strategies and investment priorities.
Quality, Safety & Operational Standards:
- Support the implementation and consistent application of company policies, procedures, management systems, and operational standards throughout the plant.
- Ensure compliance with applicable quality, health and safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
- Support the effective implementation and maintenance of management systems, including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
- Reinforce employee awareness and adherence to company standards, operating procedures, safety requirements, and workplace expectations.
- Participate in the review of operational, quality, safety, and environmental performance and lead or support improvement initiatives as required.
- Maintain an efficient, organized, safe, and productive operating environment.
Qualifications:
- Post-secondary education in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Operations, Business, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Design, Product Development, or a related field. A Master's degree is considered an asset.
- Significant leadership experience within manufacturing operations, including production, production planning, supply chain, logistics, maintenance, quality, and related functions.
- Proven experience leading manufacturing operations within a Canadian industrial or manufacturing environment is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing customer-focused projects, operational budgets, productivity initiatives, cost-control programs, and overall business performance.
- Strong understanding of design for manufacturing, process development, material evaluation, production planning, supply chain management, quality systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Solid knowledge of Canadian health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements applicable to manufacturing operations.
- Strong mechanical, mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound business and operational decisions.
- Demonstrated leadership and change-management experience, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive operational excellence.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and relationship-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, customer-focused manufacturing environment.
Relationship to Others in the Company:
- Work collaboratively with all areas of the business to achieve company and plant objectives.
- Establish strong working relationships with senior leadership and functional teams, including Engineering, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, Quality, Human Resources, and Operations.
- Promote effective cross-functional communication and collaboration to resolve operational challenges and support business priorities.
- Serve as a key link between plant operations, corporate leadership, customers, suppliers, and other external stakeholders.
