Job Description

Plant Manager

Value Driven Solutions (VDS) is looking for a Plant Manager to join our interim executive bench, with this engagement deploying on-site at our PE-backed manufacturing client in the [Location] region. The Plant Manager will own everything that happens between the receiving dock and the shipping dock, build the operating cadence, and create the conditions for sustainable improvement after the engagement ends.

The ideal candidate will enjoy stabilizing, ramping, or turning around a single site and have the ability to dig into root cause, weigh countermeasures, and deliver the best possible safety, quality, delivery, and cost outcome. The ideal candidate will apply their command of structured problem-solving and Lean and communicate effectively with operators, salaried staff, and customer auditors.

Responsibilities:

• Plant operations – Own daily plant performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people. Manage the site P&L, including labor, materials, conversion cost, and capital projects. Lead customer, regulatory, and corporate audits and visits.
• Operating system – Run the plant operating system: tier meetings, hour-by-hour boards, layered process audits, and standard work for leaders. Drive Lean, kaizen, and structured problem-solving (A3, 8D, DMAIC) on the floor.
• Team and P&L – Lead the production, maintenance, planning, and quality teams; coach value-stream and area leaders. Partner with HR on workforce planning, training, and succession.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership including 3+ years as a Plant Manager
• Hands-on Lean and structured problem-solving capability
• Strong floor presence and ability to lead union or non-union workforces
• Experience managing $25M+ site P&L
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent experience considered
• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt preferred
• Prior interim Plant Manager or Operations Consultant experience a plus

About Value Driven Solutions

Value Driven Solutions (VDS) is a management consulting firm dedicated to Operational Excellence for middle-market and private equity-backed manufacturers. Senior executives and PE investors worldwide rely on VDS to enhance enterprise value, expand margins, improve capital efficiency, reduce working capital, optimize supply chains, and prepare companies for sale. Our network of 10,000+ Interim Executives and Experts is fully vetted, with an average of 20–30 years of experience — the top 1% of operating talent globally.

Our experts enjoy a work culture that promotes hands-on impact, executive-level autonomy, and meaningful results. VDS engagement benefits include competitive contract rates commensurate with experience and seniority, structured engagement support through a dedicated VDS Engagement Partner, proven methodology and toolkits including the Value-Driven Approach® and Everything OpEx® frameworks, and continued business development between engagements.

Experts can also take advantage of access to our 360° Client Alignment® process, deployment within days of engagement start, exposure to diverse industries (aerospace, food, consumer goods, industrial products, medical device, semiconductor, and battery manufacturing), and a structured Contract-to-Hire path that lets both Expert and client validate fit before conversion. All positions are Contract-to-Hire engagements; VDS facilitates the transition to permanent employment if and when the client and Expert elect to convert.

Value Driven Solutions is an equal-opportunity employer.