Senior Plant Manager

CONFIDENTIAL RETAINED SEARCH

We are conducting a confidential, retained search for a senior plant manager at a well-established US engineered-to-order manufacturing company. The senior plant manager will lead all manufacturing, production, and operational functions at one site, in partnership with the Director of Operations. In addition, we seek executives with 15+ years of operations leadership in an engineer-to-order or make-to-order environment.

Search Reference: TNF-MFG-SPM-2026 | Plant Leadership Mandate, US Engineered-to-Order Manufacturing

About This Search

Top Notch Finders holds an exclusive, strictly confidential retained search for a plant leader at a well-established US manufacturing organization. Because we protect our client and every candidate, we disclose the company’s identity and the location of its operations only to qualified candidates under a confidentiality agreement. In addition, Top Notch Finders receives and manages every inquiry and application directly.

The Senior Plant Manager Opportunity

This leader holds full accountability for site performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement. As a result, the role combines strong leadership with hands-on technical involvement on the production floor. In addition, this executive joins the operations leadership team, aligns product lines, and shares best practices across the manufacturing network.

Market Context

Engineer-to-order manufacturers build low-volume, high-mix products to customer specifications. Because every project differs, plant leaders must connect design, supply chain, and production closely. Therefore, the best candidates blend Lean discipline with practical, shop-floor problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the manufacturing site, including production, sourcing, materials, warehousing, planning, scheduling, and logistics.
• Maintain a strong shop floor presence, so you respond directly to production issues and people’s needs.
• Drive continuous improvement with operational excellence tools and Lean methodologies to raise throughput, reduce waste, and optimize cost.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety standards, and foster a culture of safety and accountability.
• Champion talent development, coaching, and engagement to build a high-performing workforce.
• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain to run an efficient engineer-to-order process.
• Join new product development and design-for-manufacturing reviews, so the transition from design to production stays smooth.
• Respond to customer needs and field issues, so customers receive timely, high-quality solutions.
• Manage plant P&L metrics, budgets, and performance targets, so results stay in line with business objectives.
• Serve as the primary operational contact for corporate functions and sister manufacturing sites.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in industrial management, applied engineering, business, or a related field (required); an advanced degree (preferred).
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations leadership in an engineer-to-order or make-to-order environment, including 10+ years in plant management or an equivalent role.
• Proven success managing complex, multi-product, low-volume, high-mix production.
• Strong ERP/MRP and data-driven decision-making experience.
• The ability to read and interpret blueprints, assemblies, and mechanical diagrams.
• Strong Lean and continuous improvement knowledge, with a record of measurable results.
• Experience managing technical support, order management, and aftermarket operations (preferred).
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills, because the role must build alignment across functions and levels.

In addition, we look for leaders who show operational discipline, a continuous improvement mindset, and a strong customer focus. Also, they build trust-based partnerships across sites, develop their people, and balance near-term results with long-term automation and productivity opportunities.

How to Apply in Confidence

This is a discreet, retained engagement. We will never present your candidacy to any organization without your explicit prior authorization. In addition, the hiring company cannot see any application at this stage.

If you are an accomplished plant leader and want to take the next step as our client’s senior plant manager, please submit your resume in confidence directly to Top Notch Finders. Then reference search code TNF-MFG-SPM-2026 in your submission. However, do not include proprietary information from your current employer in your application materials. As a result, we will contact only the candidates whose backgrounds align closely with the mandate.