Position summary
a leading consumer packaged goods manufacturer is conducting a confidential search for a plant manager to lead all operations of its manufacturing facility in tijuana, mexico. Reporting directly to the coo, this is a hands-on, results-driven leadership role — not a traditional desk-based management position. The successful candidate will be expected to spend significant time on the production floor, deeply involved in day-to-day processes, actively solving problems alongside the team.
this role carries full accountability for production output, quality, and on-time delivery across a workforce of 1,500+ employees. The plant manager will inherit a team that is developing its capabilities and will be expected to elevate performance, instill discipline and accountability, and build toward a high-functioning, self-sufficient operation. This is an opportunity for a builder — someone who leads from the front, earns trust on the floor, and is energized by the challenge of developing people and processes simultaneously.
departments overseen
* engineering & maintenance
* production & manufacturing
* production planning & scheduling
* warehouse & logistics
essential duties & responsibilities
safety, compliance & quality
* champion plant safety, hygiene, and environmental compliance as a priority — modeling expectations and holding all levels of the organization accountable
* lead adherence to gmp, fda, iso, and other applicable regulatory and certification standards; support and prepare for external audits
* establish and enforce quality systems that protect product integrity from line to shipment
operations & floor leadership
* be present and active on the production floor — directly observe, engage, and problem-solve across all manufacturing processes on a daily basis
* drive output, quality, and on-time delivery with a relentless focus on results: the right quantity, the right quality, on time, every time
* monitor operations in real time and trigger rapid corrective actions when deviations occur — without waiting for escalation
* allocate resources effectively, eliminate bottlenecks, and maximize throughput across all production lines
* increase production capacity and operational flexibility while controlling costs and maintaining standards
team development & culture
* assess the current team's capabilities honestly and build a structured development plan to mature the organization over time
* coach, mentor, and hold accountable frontline supervisors and department leads — elevating the quality of leadership at every level
* foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement where employees are equipped to solve problems, not just escalate them
* drive meaningful engagement between production workers and front-line supervisors to reduce turnover and increase ownership
* build succession depth in engineering, maintenance, and production to reduce single-point-of-failure risk
cost control & financial accountability
* own the plant p&l at the operational level — understand the cost structure of the facility and manage to it with discipline, not approximation
* build and manage the plant operating budget; track spend against budget monthly and identify variances before they become problems
* drive labor cost efficiency through effective scheduling, workforce utilization analysis, and reduction of overtime and unplanned downtime
* actively manage material yield and scrap rates — establish baselines, set targets, track actuals, and hold department leads accountable for results
* identify and eliminate non-value-added activity across all production areas; translate waste reduction directly into measurable cost savings
* control indirect costs including maintenance spend, consumables, and utilities — implement preventive strategies that reduce reactive expenditure
* partner with finance to ensure accurate cost reporting and to build fact-based business cases for capital investments or process changes
production efficiency & output
* own overall equipment effectiveness (oee) across all production lines — establish current baselines, set improvement targets, and drive week-over-week progress
* reduce unplanned downtime through proactive maintenance planning, root cause analysis, and rapid response protocols when equipment failures occur
* analyze line balancing and production sequencing to maximize throughput without adding headcount or capital
* drive changeover time reduction across product skus — implement smed principles or equivalent structured changeover improvement programs
* monitor and improve first-pass yield rates; establish clear defect tracking at the line level and drive corrective action at the source
* implement production scheduling discipline that minimizes idle time, reduces work-in-process inventory, and improves on-time-to-schedule performance
* establish and track labor productivity metrics (units per labor hour, standard vs. actual) and use the data to surface inefficiencies and drive improvement
performance management & continuous improvement
* define, track, and own a full dashboard of plant kpis — safety, quality, output, oee, cost per unit, labor efficiency, on-time delivery — and review them daily, not weekly
* lead structured continuous improvement initiatives (lean, six sigma, kaizen, or equivalent) and build a pipeline of improvement projects with owners, timelines, and measurable outcomes
* establish a culture where problems surface quickly, root causes are identified rigorously, and corrective actions stick — not a culture of repeated workarounds
* develop and maintain a regular reporting cadence to the coo and senior leadership on performance, cost trends, risks, and forward priorities
strategic & cross-functional alignment
* implement corporate strategy at the plant level with clarity and consistency across all functions
* collaborate with planning, supply chain, and commercial teams to align production capacity with demand
* stay current with industry best practices and bring relevant innovations and approaches to the operation
required qualifications & skill sets
* minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including direct plant manager or equivalent senior leadership responsibility
* demonstrated track record of driving measurable improvements in output, quality, and on-time delivery — with specific results you can speak to
* hands-on leadership style: a manager who is most effective and most comfortable on the floor, not behind a desk
* proven ability to develop and mature an under-performing or developing team — patience and structure in building people alongside holding them accountable
* strong kpi discipline: ability to build a full plant performance dashboard, interpret the data correctly, and drive action — not just report numbers upward
* demonstrated experience owning an operating budget, managing to cost targets, and delivering verifiable cost reductions with quantifiable results
* hands-on experience improving oee, reducing downtime, and increasing labor productivity — with specific numbers and methods you can speak to
* working knowledge of lean manufacturing, six sigma, or equivalent continuous improvement frameworks applied in a real production environment
* proficiency in erp/mrp systems and microsoft office suite
* knowledge of safety regulations and quality standards (gmp/fda/iso) applicable to regulated manufacturing environments
* excellent written and verbal communication skills in both english and spanish (bilingual required)
* bs degree in engineering, operations management, business, or a related field; equivalent professional experience considered
preferred background
* experience in health & beauty, cosmetics, personal care, otc drug, or food & beverage manufacturing
* familiarity with tijuana, zlfn maquiladora environment, and mexican labor law (lft) compliance
* experience managing a unionized or large hourly workforce in a regulated manufacturing setting
* exposure to fda-regulated or gmp-certified operations with hands-on audit preparation experience
what we are looking for (and what we are not)
this role is not suited for a traditional plant manager who manages by reports and relies on others for floor-level visibility. We are specifically seeking a candidate who is energized by the challenge of being in the middle of things — understanding the nuances of each production line, knowing the team by name, and solving problems that others haven't yet structured into a process. If you have built something from a rough starting point, developed people who didn't believe they could grow, and delivered results in a complex, regulated environment — we want to hear from you.
this is a confidential search. The name of the hiring company will be disclosed to qualified candidates upon mutual interest.