Salt Lake City Plant Director

Quad is currently hiring a Plant Director for our Salt Lake City location. The Plant Director oversees daily operations of the manufacturing facility to ensure optimal efficiency, product quality, employee safety, and client satisfaction. This role is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing plant operations to meet or exceed customer expectations while driving continuous improvement, cost optimization, and P&L (Profit and Loss) performance. The Plant Director also partners closely with cross-functional teams to implement plant-level strategies aligned with company goals.

Key Responsibilities: 

Operational Leadership

• Lead day‑to‑day plant operations to achieve production, quality, cost, delivery, and safety targets.
• Act as a key member of the Plant Leadership Team, ensuring alignment and coordination across all departments.
• Oversee methods, processes, cost controls, scheduling, capacity planning, and resource allocation.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for production issues and drive timely, effective resolution.

Financial & Performance Management

• Directly responsible for P&L performance, including EBITDA and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor key KPIs and leverage data to proactively improve operational results.
• Implement strategies to optimize productivity, reduce waste, and enhance throughput.

Client & Customer Relations

• Ensure client satisfaction through responsiveness, quality performance, and strong operational execution.
• Personally engage with clients during significant quality issues or service disruptions to lead root cause analysis, drive corrective actions, and communicate resolution plans.
• Support onboarding of new clients as needed and collaborate with account teams on service-related needs.

Employee Leadership & Culture

• Lead, mentor, and develop plant leaders and production teams to promote strong performance and engagement.
• Oversee talent strategies including staffing, retention initiatives, workforce development, and succession planning.
• Promote and model an equitable, inclusive, and accountable work environment.
• Ensure adherence to company policies and reinforce company culture and communication standards.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure a safe working environment by enforcing company safety programs, regulations, and policies.
• Oversee quality processes and compliance with all relevant industry standards—including food safety requirements for Packaging operations.
• Maintain strong plant appearance, housekeeping, and operational discipline.

Continuous Improvement

• Promote and implement CI methodologies (Lean, Bronze Certification preferred).
• Drive innovation, operational optimization, and cross-functional problem‑solving efforts.
• Lead or participate in improvement “war room” activities to guide plant priorities and action plans.

Community Engagement 

• Support occasional community or ESG-related initiatives as appropriate.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field preferred. 
• In lieu of degree, 10+ years of directly relevant experience may be considered.

Experience:

• 10–15+ years in manufacturing, including 5+ years in a senior leadership or plant management role. 
• Demonstrated record of improving operational performance and leading large teams.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement certification (preferred) 
• OSHA or safety leadership training (preferred)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Expert knowledge of manufacturing operations, including safety, quality, and productivity systems. 
• Strong understanding of P&L management, KPIs, and financial performance drivers. 
• Technical familiarity with industry-standard manufacturing equipment. 
• Proven leadership, coaching, and team‑building capabilities. 
• Strong decision-making, organizational, analytical, and communication skills. 
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed environment. 
• Problem‑solving proficiency with attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities.