Plant Manager – Tapes Converting – NJ

The Plant Manager leads and directs all converting operations at the Fairfield, NJ facility. This senior leadership role is accountable for the full spectrum of manufacturing performance — safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people. The Plant Manager works cross-functionally with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain to develop and execute a production strategy that meets customer commitments while driving continuous improvement and long-term operational excellence.

• Title: Plant Manager
• Department: Operations
• Reports To: Plant Director
• Location: Fairfield, NJ
• Job Type: Full Time
• Position ID: 6200

This position requires a hands-on leader with deep manufacturing expertise who can build high-performance teams, champion a culture of accountability and safety, and translate data into action.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Operations Management

• Direct day-to-day converting plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Own the production schedule; coordinate staffing assignments, overtime, and shift coverage to meet output goals.
• Analyze production and process data to identify gaps, lead root-cause investigations, and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee release liner manufacturing quality, ensuring products meet all internal and customer specifications.
• Manage the implementation and administration of production procedures, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.

Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and execute the plant’s operational strategy, including resource allocation and capacity planning.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate waste, reduce downtime, and improve throughput.
• Lead and support capital improvement projects from scoping through completion; collaborate with Maintenance to minimize disruption.
• Build and manage the department budget; track spend vs. plan and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Drive process improvement initiatives with measurable impact on material utilization, efficiency, and profitability.

Safety & Quality Compliance

• Establish and maintain a safety-first culture; ensure all employees are trained and certified in safe operating procedures.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA and applicable regulatory requirements; lead incident investigations and corrective action follow-through.
• Champion quality initiatives and maintain adherence to applicable quality standards (e.g., ISO or equivalent).
• Conduct regular safety audits, hazard assessments, and ensure PPE (hearing protection, safety glasses, safety shoes) compliance on the floor.

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of production supervisors; provide regular performance feedback and meaningful development conversations.
• Drive a culture of accountability, empowerment, and integrity throughout the workforce.
• Manage the full employee lifecycle for direct reports: hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and succession planning.
• Communicate regularly with frontline employees to build trust, share performance results, and maintain organizational transparency.
• Identify motivating factors for individuals and teams; create an environment where people are inspired to perform at their best.

Reporting & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Present manufacturing data, KPI trends, and improvement results to plant leadership and senior management.
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams on shared initiatives and escalations.
• Manage and report on daily KPIs; develop action plans when performance falls below target thresholds.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing management experience, with at least 3 years at the Plant Manager or equivalent senior leadership level.
• Hands-on experience in slitting, rewinding, or converting operations (tape, label, film, or similar flexible substrates strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Six Sigma methodologies (formal certification a plus).
• Familiarity with quality management systems and standards (ISO 9001 or equivalent).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); working knowledge of SAP and/or MES platforms.
• Willingness and ability to work flexible schedules, including off-shift or weekend coverage as operational needs require.

Preferred

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical field.
• Experience managing multi-shift production environments with hourly and salaried workforces.
• Track record of successfully delivering capital project and process improvement results.
• Bilingual (English / Spanish) a plus given a diverse manufacturing workforce.

Core Competencies

Successful candidates will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Safety & Security: Consistently models safe behaviors; holds the team accountable to the highest safety standards.
• Customer Focus: Keeps internal and external customer commitments at the center of every operational decision.
• Team Leadership: Builds trust, fosters collaboration, and gets results through people — not around them.
• Positive Energy: Brings enthusiasm and optimism, especially during challenging situations.<
• Passion: Demonstrates genuine pride in the work and inspires the same in others.
• Integrity: Acts with honesty and transparency; does the right thing even when it’s difficult.
• Resourcefulness: Finds practical solutions with available resources; avoids analysis paralysis.
• >Experience & Expertise: Draws on deep operational knowledge to make sound decisions quickly.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and communicate verbally.
• Frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl while performing floor-level inspections.
• Occasionally required to sit, use hands to finger/handle/feel, and climb or balance on elevated surfaces.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs; may pull hand trucks loaded up to 500 lbs.
• Specific vision requirements: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The converting floor contains fast-moving mechanical equipment. Employees are required to consistently wear hearing protection, safety glasses, and safety shoes while in production areas.

What We Offer

We provide a compelling environment for leaders who want to make a tangible impact:

• A meaningful leadership role within the adhesive tapes, converting, and printed products industry.
• Membership in a successful, growing, multicultural global organization.
• An empowering culture that values ownership, initiative, and continuous learning.
• Real growth opportunities — we invest in developing our people for broader responsibilities over time.