Our client, Optinova, is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee operations at its US HQ in Valley Forge, PA, where significant investments in the plant are being made to manage the company's continued market expansion.
Founded in Finland in 1971, Optinova is a global pioneer in advanced tubing solutions for the medical device industry and fluoropolymer tubing for challenging industrial applications.
With sales offices worldwide and four state-of-the-art extrusion plants in Finland, Thailand, and the US, they serve customers across 50+ countries.
Renowned as one of the longest-standing extrusion companies globally, Optinova stands for innovation and pushing boundaries beyond imagination to improve the quality of everyday life worldwide.
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About the Position
As Plant Manager, you will spearhead the day-to-day operations of Optinova’s plant in Valley Forge, PA. You’ll be instrumental in fostering the plant’s development and expansion while consistently exceeding customer expectations.
Emphasizing quality as a top priority, you’ll drive measurable business results and ensure the plant’s continuous growth and success.
To be successful in this role, you should have exceptional leadership skills and the ability to scale a smaller business and lead a growth trajectory with a blend of business acumen and entrepreneurial flair.
Familiarity with quality management systems, automotive standards, and regulatory protocols for medical-grade products is essential.
With a knack for multi-tasking and decision-making, you’ll thrive in this dynamic environment. This position reports directly to the COO at the HQ in Scandinavia and is part of Optinova Group’s Extended Executive team.
Your responsibilities include :
- Oversee and optimize daily operations of the plant , ensuring production goals are efficiently met.
- Lead a team of professionals , including engineers, operators, technicians, and quality assurance personnel, fostering a collaborative, results-driven work environment.
- Implement and enforce safety protocols , adhering to industry regulations and standards.
- Develop and execute production schedules , ensuring timely delivery of high-quality extruded products for industrial and medical applications.
- Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and Engineering teams to drive continuous improvement and innovation in extrusion processes, automated secondary operations, and meet evolving customer demands.
- Collaborate with the global management team to align plant operations with customer demands and integrated business planning principles.
- Manage the plant’s P&L , identify cost-saving opportunities, and develop investment plans to drive profitable growth.
- Maintain relationships with key suppliers to ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply chain.
- Implement and uphold quality control measures for production precision and consistency to meet customer expectations.
- Ensure the team is equipped to lead troubleshooting efforts and conduct proactive maintenance.
- Foster a culture of accountability for quality, proactiveness, professional development, and cross-functional collaboration within the plant and the group.
- Develop and implement a strategic plan for the plant that aligns with the Optinova Group’s Strategic plan to support the growth plans in the US market.
What We Expect from You
Your Work Experience & Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
- Min. 5 years of proven experience in a managerial role within the extrusion, injection molding, or automation industry, specifically with exposure to medical applications
- Ability to motivate and manage a diverse team effectively.
- Experience in project management, sales, and operational planning, and a good understanding of how cost drivers impact the P&L
- Familiarity with quality management systems, automotive standards, and regulatory requirements for medical-grade products
- Solid analytical skills with the ability to recommend data-based decisions, balancing strategic and operational impact.
- Direct experience implementing standard operating procedures for production, warehouse, maintenance, and quality functions in a production plant environment.
- Demonstrated exceptional people leadership in managing employee safety and environmental compliance, along with a commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement in a manufacturing setting.
- Ensure that Optinova retains its competitive edge by keeping informed of evolving industry trends and technological advancements in extrusion processes and automated secondary operations.
- Comfortable with technology & proficient in MS Office 365 Suite and various business software (e.g. ERP, CRM)
Your Personality and Leadership Style will Matter
We expect you to be able to merge the best-of-the-best of American family-oriented business culture with a forward-thinking and entrepreneurial Scandinavian way of conducting and organizing business, which is non-hierarchical and results-driven while promoting teamwork, problem-solving, collaboration, and straightforward, honest, and transparent communication.
Result- and business-minded. You possess strong business acumen, strategic ability, and a commercial mindset. Knowledgeable of current affairs and practices and keenly keeping up with future trends that might impact the business and organization.
Results drive you, and you can inspire and lead others to excel.
Organizational development skills. With your continuous improvement mindset, you can easily analyze and drive change / improvements, shift gears as needed, and be a strong change management leader.
You look at issues and challenges from the broadest possible perspective to evaluate the best solution that is good for business and delivers the best value to customers.
- Interpersonal communication skills. You can connect and relate to people from all walks of life vertically and horizontally, internally and externally.
- People management abilities. Clearly communicating vision, mission, goals, and expectations comes naturally to you. You easily gain trust cross-divisionally and are known for creating an environment where people want to do their best.
Understands how to develop talent that drives performance and motivates people to grow within the organization.
What We Offer is More than Just a Job
- A competitive compensation and excellent benefits package
- A creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial environment where individuals truly make a difference.
- Personal and professional development in an international environment
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