The company
our client is part of a multinational european group with its headquarters in europe and manufacturing locations in five countries: italy, ireland, hungary, china, indonesia, mexico, and the united states. With over $300m+ in revenue, the group is owned by a private equity fund. Our client is a global leader in developing solutions for a broad range of industrial applications. By combining innovative manufacturing processes with technical solutions, they support the world’s most renowned brands. Their nogales, mexico facility integrates plastic injection molding, precision machining, and complex assembly to deliver reliable, high-performance fluid control components used in industries such as medical devices, water systems, and industrial fluid management. They specialize in high-engineering solenoid valves, pumps, rotary vanes, gears, and components used by the world’s top appliance, beverages, and industrial oems. The company combines engineering excellence with a strong culture of operational discipline, continuous improvement, and innovation.
the position
we’re looking for a motivated, results-oriented very hands-on plant manager ready to take on a dynamic, fast-paced environment and grow into a senior leadership role. This position is ideal for someone (i.e. experienced operations manager or business unit manager ready make a leap, or plant manager with 2+years experience) who wants to make an impact early, build strong operational experience, and develop as a leader. This role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a plant ramp-up, plant performance, including production, quality, maintenance, safety, and workforce management. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in lean manufacturing, cost optimization, team leadership, and continuous improvement in a mid-volume/complex industrial production environment.
key responsibilities:
* lead operations of the plant, ensuring that production goals, quality standards, and safety metrics are consistently met or exceeded.
* develop and implement strategies to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize resource utilization.
* collaborate with senior leadership to establish short- and long-term operational goals aligned with business objectives.
* drive a culture of continuous improvement.
* oversee and mentor department managers (e.g., production, planning, maintenance, quality, logistics) to ensure smooth and integrated operations.
* monitor key performance indicators (kpis) and implement corrective actions when necessary.
* ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
* foster a high-performance culture with strong employee engagement, development, and retention practices.
* partner with hr to address workforce planning, training, and labor relations matters.
* lead and manage cross-functional initiatives related to new product launches, production transfers, technology upgrades, and equipment installations, fostering organization and execution according to apqp standards.
the candidate
requiredqualifications:
* bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, operations management, or a related field.
* minimum 5 years of progressive experience in industrial or heavy manufacturing, with at least 5 years in an operations leadership role (i.e. experienced operations manager or business unit manager ready to make a leap or more than 2 years in a plant manager role.
* demonstrated experience in managing mid-to-large-scale manufacturing operations with 100+ employees.
* experience with apqp standards
* experience working with iso 9001 or qms systems.
* knowledge of cnc machining, plastic injection molding, manufacturing equipment, and assembly.
* strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
* proven track record of achieving production, safety, and quality targets.
* familiarity with budget building, financial projections and tracking financial results
* excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
* must be able to communicate fluently both verbal and written english and spanish.
* must have authorization to work in mexico and valid u.s. Tourist visa
preferred:
* master’s degree (mba or related).
* certification in lean or six sigma (e.g., black belt).
* experience with erp systems (e.g., sap, jde).
* background in union and non-union environments.
* experience with fluidic pump components and knowledge of magnetic drive gear pump technology is a nice to have but not required.
workingconditions:
* this role requires frequent presence on the shop floor in a high-paced manufacturing environment.
* may require extended hours, including evenings or weekends, during critical production periods or shutdowns.
* international travel up to 15%