Plant Manager

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager for our client, an established industrial manufacturing company based in Southern Germany.

The position requires a technically strong and hands‑on manufacturing leader with extensive experience in production management and responsibility for a large workforce. We are specifically looking for a Plant Manager who is highly present on the shopfloor, understands production processes in depth, and can successfully lead an organization of more than 400 employees.

Responsibilities:

• Take overall responsibility for the operational performance of the production plant.
• Lead and manage a manufacturing organization with more than 400 employees.
• Ensure efficient, stable, and high-quality production operations.
• Maintain a strong presence on the shopfloor and work closely with production teams and operational management.
• Drive improvements in productivity, manufacturing processes, quality, delivery performance, and cost efficiency.
• Lead, develop, and motivate the plant management team and production organization.
• Identify operational challenges and implement effective corrective and improvement measures.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Ensure effective cooperation between production, engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and other plant functions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, and company standards.

Requirements:

• Several years of successful experience as Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Production Director, or in a comparable senior manufacturing leadership position.
• Proven experience leading a large industrial production organization, ideally with 400+ employees.
• Strong technical and manufacturing background with a deep understanding of production processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operations directly from the shopfloor and to work effectively with production teams at all organizational levels.
• Strong expertise in production management, operational excellence, process improvement, and performance management.
• Hands-on, pragmatic, and results-oriented leadership style.
• Strong people leadership skills with the ability to develop managers and build high-performing teams.
• Technical or engineering education is strongly preferred.
• Fluent German is required, English is an advantage.
• Willingness to work on‑site in Southern Germany.