Plant Manager

About the company

This opportunity is with a global recruitment client for a Plant Manager to take charge of a manufacturing site in County Donegal, Ireland. The site employs more than 500 people and the role carries full responsibility for driving operational performance, supporting world-class standards, and coordinating closely with international leadership.

The position is centered on improving performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and people outcomes while ensuring the plant operates effectively for both customers and the wider business.

Key duties

In this leadership role, you will oversee every major site function, including engineering, production, finance, quality, materials, facilities, and EHS. You will be accountable for the site’s P&L, budget setting, and delivery of agreed targets.

• Direct all plant operations and carry full financial accountability for the site.
• Set budgets, establish performance goals, and make sure the plant delivers against them.
• Lead the various functional teams and build a motivated, high-performing culture.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma practices across the business to raise standards.
• Improve quality, cost efficiency, delivery performance, and productivity through measurable actions.
• Design manufacturing processes that can scale and remain resilient as the business grows.
• Plan capacity effectively so operations stay aligned with business demand.
• Attract, develop, and retain strong teams while strengthening accountability and safety.
• Oversee performance management, future leadership planning, and clear internal communication.
• Develop strong customer relationships and support the launch of new products.
• Represent the organisation in the local business community as needed.

Candidate profile

To be successful, you should bring a degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business, along with substantial senior-level manufacturing leadership experience. Deep practical expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma is essential.

You will also need a strong history of leading large-scale manufacturing sites and delivering improvements in cost, productivity, and operational change. A solid understanding of manufacturing systems, supply chain processes, and performance measurement is important, as is the ability to lead confidently in a complex international setting.

Desirable qualifications include an MBA or Master’s degree, and experience in a high-volume or otherwise complex manufacturing environment would be an advantage.

Rewards and benefits

The package includes a highly competitive salary, a performance bonus equal to 10%, private healthcare, an executive-level benefits package, a pension scheme, and additional financial benefits. This is a significant leadership opportunity at a strategically important site, offering regular exposure to senior international stakeholders.

You can also expect strong investment in learning, development, and career progression, along with a stable long-term role supported by continued regional investment and expansion.

Terms and application process

This is a permanent, full-time, on-site position based in County Donegal, Ireland.

The recruiter notes that this vacancy is a permanent recruitment assignment and that applications are handled in line with the agency’s privacy policy and disclaimers.

No vacancy count, salary figure, or start date was stated.