Plant Manager

Job Description Your New Job Our client is seeking a Plant Manager for their brand-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Southeast of Ireland.
This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to shape the future of manufacturing in Ireland, from the first line installed to the first product out the door.
As the sites inaugural Plant Manager, you'll play a mission-critical role in bringing this facility to life, embedding operational excellence, and building a top-tier leadership team.
Youll be the driving force behind the site's success leading across safety, manufacturing, engineering, quality, and logistics while partnering closely with Group leadership to deliver an agile, modern, and commercially robust operation.
This role offers huge scope, autonomy, and progression in a fast-growing, privately owned business with major investment backing.
Key Duties & Responsibilities Lead the launch, scale-up, and full operations of Irelands most modern manufacturing site.
Provide strategic leadership across all plant functions Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, and HSE.
Build a high-performing site team from the ground up, developing, and coaching your leadership and technical teams.
Champion a zero-harm safety culture, ensuring full compliance with regulatory, environmental, and health & safety standards.
Deliver daily performance and long-term operational strategy through robust planning, cost control, and resource allocation.
Implement world-class systems and lean processes that drive performance, reliability, and continuous improvement.
Monitor and control all operational budgets, including R&M, raw materials, staffing, energy, and overheads.
Own site P&L performance, setting and delivering clear KPIs aligned with Group objectives.
Lead investment planning and project execution for short, medium, and long-term Capex requirements.
Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration across departments.
Ensure high standards in quality, product consistency, and customer satisfaction.
Act as the sites senior interface with key stakeholders including Group Directors, external suppliers, contractors, and regulators.
Drive strategic alignment with the Managing Director and CFO, feeding into wider business goals and performance reporting.
What Are We Looking For? 10+ years' leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of full-site operational responsibility.
Demonstrated success managing P&L performance, people leadership, and technical operations in a large-scale production setting.
Strong working knowledge of engineering, production, maintenance, and supply chain processes.
Degree-qualified in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical field.
Experience within building materials, or heavy manufacturing is a plus but a sharp operational mind and leadership excellence are key.
Skilled in performance management, strategic planning, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Hands-on leader who can operate from boardroom to shop floor capable, credible, and commercially savvy.
Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, and change management skills.
Resilient, ambitious, and excited by the opportunity to build something from the ground up.
Why Join? Be part of a transformational new plant from Day One.
Work in a modern, future-focused manufacturing environment.
Partner directly with senior decision-makers in a growing and ambitious private business.
Excellent package and long-term growth opportunities.
Apply for this job now by emailing your WORD formatted CV By applying, you are giving consent for Matrix Recruitment to contact you about this job.
We collect your data for recruitment purposes only and will retain it for the duration required as outlined in our privacy policy.
All CVs are kept confidential and will not be submitted to any clients without your knowledge and permission.
Please note that due to the expected high volume of applications we can only reply to applicants suitable for the position.
We Value Your Trust.
Skills: Factory Management Lean Management Industrial Management Manufacturing Operations Logistical Operations Optimise Production

---