Plant manager – maquiladora operations (tijuana, mexico)location: tijuana, baja california, mexicoreports to: director of operations / vp operations (u.s.-based)employment type: full-timeposition summarythe plant manager is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, and compliance of the maquiladora manufacturing facility in tijuana, mexico. This role ensures safe, efficient, and high-quality production while maintaining compliance with mexican labor laws, immex regulations, u.s. customer requirements, and corporate policies. The plant manager serves as the primary operational link between the mexico facility and u.s. headquarters.key responsibilitiesoperations & productionlead daily manufacturing operations to meet production schedules, quality standards, cost targets, and delivery commitments.develop and execute production plans aligned with customer demand and corporate objectives.drive continuous improvement initiatives (lean, kaizen, six sigma) to improve productivity, reduce scrap, and optimize labor utilization.ensure equipment uptime through effective maintenance planning and capital investment recommendations.quality & complianceensure compliance with customer quality requirements and applicable certifications (iso 9001, iso 13485, iatf 16949, as applicable).maintain compliance with immex/maquiladora regulations, customs controls, and inventory reconciliation.enforce compliance with mexican labor laws, environmental regulations, and safety standards (stps).lead internal and external audits, including customer, regulatory, and corporate audits.financial & cost managementmanage plant p&l performance, including labor costs, overhead, scrap, and rework.prepare and manage annual operating budgets and capital expenditure plans.identify cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining quality and safety standards.collaborate with finance on inventory accuracy, cycle counts, and variance analysis.leadership & human resourcesbuild, lead, and develop a high-performing management team (production, engineering, quality, maintenance, hr).foster a culture of accountability, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.support recruitment, training, and retention of skilled hourly and salaried employees.ensure consistent application of hr policies, disciplinary processes, and labor relations practices.supply chain & logisticscoordinate with supply chain teams to ensure material availability, inventory control, and on-time delivery.oversee inbound and outbound logistics, including u.s.–mexico cross-border shipments.ensure compliance with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and trade documentation requirements.communication & reportingact as the primary point of contact between the tijuana plant and u.s. leadership.provide regular reporting on kpis including safety, quality, delivery, cost, and labor efficiency.support customer visits, audits, and executive reviews.qualificationseducation & experiencebachelor’s degree in engineering, operations management, industrial engineering, or related field.8–12+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, including 3–5 years as a plant manager or senior operations manager.prior experience managing a maquiladora operation under immex strongly preferred.experience working with u.s.-based customers and corporate leadership.skills & competenciesstrong leadership and people-management skills in a multicultural environment.deep understanding of mexican labor law, maquiladora operations, and cross-border manufacturing.proven ability to drive lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.financial acumen with experience managing budgets and operational metrics.excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.language requirementsfluent in spanish and english (written and spoken) required.working conditionsmanufacturing plant environment with frequent presence on the production floor.occasional travel to the u.s. and supplier/customer locations.ability to work flexible hours as needed to support production requirements.key performance indicators (kpis)safety metrics (trir, incidents)on-time delivery and schedule adherencequality performance (ppm, scrap, rework)labor productivity and efficiencybudget and cost performanceemployee turnover and engagement