Plant Director bei Southern Champion Tray

Southern Champion Tray is seeking a dynamic and experienced Plant Director to lead the operation at our Fairfield, OH corrugated facility. This plant specializes in corrugated specialty printed die-cuts, producing bakery pads and circles that serve a wide range of bakeries and food service customers across the country.

The Plant Director will provide overall leadership for the facility, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, service, operational efficiencies, and team development. This role will be responsible for driving operational performance, championing continuous improvement, and fostering a culture aligned with SCT’s values of being Trustworthy, Servant-Hearted, Relational, and Resourceful.

This is a key leadership opportunity to impact a growing operation that plays a vital role in the packaging supply chain for food service partners.

 About the Position

The Plant Director oversees all aspects of the manufacturing site, including production, quality control, safety, and team leadership. This role plays a crucial part in driving operational excellence, achieving production goals, and maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and team culture. The Plant Director collaborates with internal and external partners to ensure site alignment with SCT’s overall strategic objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safety and Quality: Drive and promote a strong safety culture while ensuring compliance with safety regulations and food safety standards. Oversee safety audits, corrective actions, and actively model expected safety behaviors.
• Quality Control: Implement and maintain quality programs, monitor customer complaints, and ensure quality investigations and corrective actions are completed.
• People and Culture: Collaborate with the People Team to attract, retain, and develop top talent through workforce planning and talent development initiatives.
• Leadership Development: Provide leadership and mentorship to site leaders, manage team performance, and foster a values-driven, performance-oriented culture.
• Communication: Cascade organizational communications effectively, engaging with all levels of the site to ensure alignment and transparency.
• Performance Metrics: Establish and cascade critical KPIs to measure and drive site performance, ensuring alignment with company goals.
• Production Management: Oversee production schedules to optimize resource utilization and meet customer demands efficiently.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive Lean Manufacturing principles, implement a strong 5S culture, and oversee preventative maintenance programs to enhance operational efficiency.
• Training Programs: Partner with the site-training team to ensure standardized training programs are implemented across the plant.
• Operational Planning: Collaborate with Production Planning and Supply Chain teams to develop operational schedules that optimize production based on capacity and demand.
• Strategic Vision: Develop and execute the Site Master Plan, focusing on safety, culture, operations, lean practices, performance, and product portfolio.
• Community Partnerships: Participate in developing strategies for engaging community partnerships and fulfilling grant obligations with local, state, and federal organizations.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage the site operating budget, monitor and control expenses, and recommend capital expenditures for equipment upgrades or replacements.
• Performance Reporting: Provide regular updates to senior leadership on site performance, including KPIs, financial metrics, and operational progress.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does require supervisory responsibilities including leading and mentoring site leadership teams to ensure alignment with company objectives. The Plant Director also supports succession planning and fosters leadership development at all levels of the site.  

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Education & Experience:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, production, or manufacturing.
• Experience with paperboard converting or related manufacturing industry preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Skills & Expertise:

• In-depth knowledge of production and operations management.
• Strong understanding of quality standards, health and safety regulations.
• Experience implementing and driving Lean Manufacturing principles; Six Sigma Certification is a plus.
• Knowledge of financial metrics, reporting, and budgeting concepts.
• Proficiency in reporting and analyzing key production metrics to support operational goals.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with current industry technology and trends.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a focus on building collaborative relationships.

Values Alignment:

• Demonstrated commitment to integrity, ethics, and corporate social responsibility.
• Ability to embody and promote SCT’s core values: Trustworthy, Servant-Hearted, Relational, and Resourceful.
• Ability to foster a culture of collaboration, trust, and continuous improvement.

Communication Skills:

• Ability to read, write, and understand instructions in English.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to analyze and interpret financial and operational data to drive insights and decisions.
• Proficiency in using formulas and calculations for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Ability to remain stationary for extended periods while working on a computer. 
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Frequently required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.
• Ability to lift/move 25 to 75 pounds while working in a plant environment.
• Exposure to loud noise, moving machinery, heat, fumes, and paper dust in the plant environment.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

CAREER PATH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Opportunities for career progression within SCT’s senior operational leadership roles.
• Access to continuous learning and professional development programs.
• Mentorship opportunities to support skill enhancement and career growth.