Plant Manager
HEADSCOUT · Porto, Portugal
Tailor my CV for this job — freeThe site is entering a significant phase of growth, modernisation and organisational transformation, and the Group is focused on developing the plant into one of its key production locations.Role purpose:We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to take full responsibility for a strategically important manufacturing site in Portugal and lead it through a significant phase of growth, modernisation and organisational transformation.Combining operational excellence, organisational development, cultural transformation, production growth and leadership-team development, the successful candidate will play a central role in developing the plant into one of the Group’s key production locations. This is a highly visible leadership assignment, particularly suited to an accomplished manufacturing leader who enjoys improving and transforming complex industrial operations, rather than simply maintaining an established status quo.The plant is entering a period of accelerated development. Important progress has already been made, but considerable opportunity remains in areas such as Health & Safety, Productivity, Quality, manufacturing discipline, asset reliability, shop-floor organisation, leadership capability, cross-functional cooperation and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Overall Plant LeadershipAssume full responsibility for the performance and further development of the site.Translate Group strategy into clear plant priorities, objectives and execution plans to the site’s employees.Lead the site with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost and people.Act as the senior representative of the plant toward Group management.Ensure transparent reporting, clear ownership and disciplined execution.Take timely and independent decisions to improve the performance of the business. Operational Excellence & ProductivityDrive substantial improvements in manufacturing productivity and operational efficiency.Increase production output while avoiding disproportionate increases in headcount and cost.Establish clear operational KPIs and performance-management routines.Strengthen shop-floor accountability and daily management.Improve production discipline, standardisation and execution.Further develop and embed the Group’s production and continuous-improvement systems, including Lean Six Sigma where applicable.Health, Safety & QualityEstablish and reinforce a strong Health & Safety First culture across the organisation.Ensure that safety is visibly owned by the entire leadership team and shop-floor organisation.Strengthen operational discipline and corrective-action follow-through.Drive improvements in manufacturing quality and process stability.Reduce scrap, rework and process variability.Ensure that quality and safety are integrated into day-to-day operational decision-making.Organisation & People LeadershipDrive the site's cultural transformation into a performance-driven organisation, with leadership grounded in company values.Build a strong and cohesive plant management team.Improve cooperation between Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Finance and other functions.Eliminate functional silos and strengthen shared ownership of plant performance.Develop supervisors and shift-management structures.Establish clear responsibilities, decision rights and accountability throughout the organisation.Identify capability gaps and take appropriate decisions regarding development, succession and, where necessary, replacement.Retain and develop strong performers while upgrading weaker parts of the organisation.Manufacturing Growth & TransformationLead the plant through a significant phase of operational and organisational transformation.Prepare the organisation for substantially higher production volumes and increased strategic importance.Ensure that processes, structures and capabilities develop in line with future business requirements.Build an organisation capable of sustainable long-term growth.Drive cultural change toward greater ownership, discipline and performance orientation.Asset Reliability & MaintenanceImprove equipment reliability and machine availability.Strengthen maintenance effectiveness and asset-management discipline.Support the development of preventive and reliability-focused maintenance practices.Ensure close cooperation between Operations, Maintenance and Engineering.Prioritise asset improvements according to operational and business impact.
Requirements
We are seeking an experienced manufacturing leader with a strong track record of leading complex industrial turnover operations.Professional ExperienceThe ideal candidate will bring:Successful experience as a Plant Manager in operational turnarounds.Experience leading unionized manufacturing organisations.Exposure to multi-shift and ideally continuous-production environments.Demonstrated experience leading a plant transformation, turnaround or significant performance-improvement programme.Experience managing substantial production growth.Strong exposure to multinational manufacturing organisations.Full P&L ownership with strong financial acumen, including responsibility for plant financial performance, cost management, budgeting.Strong technical background in manufacturing / engineering, with hands-on understanding of industrial processes, equipment and production systems.Lean Six Sigma background, ideally certified (Green Belt / Black Belt or equivalent), with proven application in driving continuous improvement, waste reduction and process stability.EducationA relevant Engineering Degree is mandatory.Lean Six Sigma certification / training is a strong advantage.Operational ExpertiseCandidate should demonstrate strong capability in:Manufacturing operationsProductivity improvementCost optimisationOperational KPIsHealth & SafetyQuality improvementScrap and rework reductionMaintenance and equipment reliabilityShop-floor managementContinuous improvementLean Six Sigma methodologies and toolsTechnical problem-solving and process optimisation Leadership & Personal Profile:Mature & Autonomous – able to take ownership of the plant and operate effectively without continuous direction from Group management.Hands-On & Visible – comfortable spending significant time in the operation and engaging directly with managers, supervisors and the shop floor.Performance-Oriented – able to translate strategy into measurable objectives, routines and accountability.Decisive – prepared to address difficult issues and make unpopular decisions where required.Very Strong People Leader – a key requirement for this role, with the ability to lead the organisation through significant operational and cultural transformation, build management capability and create a high-performing team.People-Focused – able to recognise strong talent, develop capable managers and create a high-performing organisation.Pragmatic – comfortable working in an industrial environment where not every process, system or structure is yet fully mature.Change-Oriented – able to bring an organisation through significant operational and cultural transformation while maintaining business continuity.Technical & Analytical – comfortable with manufacturing technology, data and Lean Six Sigma methods.Languages:Proficient in Portuguese and English
Benefits
Highly competitive executive compensation package with annual performance bonus linked to plant and business objectives.Company car.Opportunity to lead and transform a strategically important manufacturing site within an international industrial group.High level of ownership, autonomy and visibility with direct exposure to Group management.Opportunity to drive operational excellence, production growth and organisational transformation with a direct impact on business performance.International working environment with collaboration across functions and senior stakeholders.Long-term career development opportunities within a growing international manufacturing organisation.