CAREER OPPORTUNITY: PLANT MANAGER
HR Consulting Solutions is a full service HR consulting and executive search firm that has been retained by Premier Candle Corporation to conduct a search for an experienced Plant Manager to lead manufacturing operations at their facility in Hickory, Kentucky
Premier Candle is a leading manufacturer of scented candles and home fragrance products. Formerly known as Mayfield Consumer Products, the company has undergone significant transformation and investment following the devastating tornado that impacted the facility and community in 2021. Today, Premier Candle is focused on rebuilding, modernizing operations, investing in people, and creating a culture centered on safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. The organization operates multiple production lines and continues to invest in automation, equipment upgrades, process improvements, and employee development to support long-term growth. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader who enjoys building high-performing teams, improving operational performance, and leading a culture focused on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting directly to executive leadership, the Plant Manager will provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for all manufacturing, warehouse, maintenance, quality, logistics, planning, inventory, and production operations within the facility. The Plant Manager will be responsible for achieving the company's operational objectives related to safety, quality, customer service, productivity, financial performance, and employee engagement while creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement throughout the organization. This highly visible leadership position requires an individual who can effectively balance strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership while developing managers, improving processes, and driving measurable business results.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Operations Leadership
- Provide overall leadership for all manufacturing, warehouse, maintenance, logistics, quality, planning, and production departments.
- Ensure production schedules are executed efficiently while meeting customer expectations, operational goals, and financial objectives.
- Allocate labor, equipment, and resources to maximize productivity and operational efficiency.
- Lead daily plant operations while ensuring alignment with company objectives and manufacturing strategies.
Safety & Quality Leadership
- Champion a "Safety First" culture throughout the facility.
- Ensure compliance with all safety policies, training requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Drive continuous improvement in workplace safety performance and employee engagement.
- Promote a culture where producing quality products is a core organizational value.
- Ensure compliance with GMP standards, customer requirements, internal quality systems, and regulatory audits.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead plant-wide continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, flexibility, cost reduction, scrap reduction, and operational efficiency.
- Utilize data, KPIs, and root cause analysis to identify improvement opportunities and implement corrective actions.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational excellence throughout the organization.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and process improvement initiatives across all departments.
Financial & Business Performance
- Develop and manage annual operating budgets in partnership with Finance.
- Monitor labor costs, production volumes, inventory levels, productivity metrics, and overall plant performance.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while reducing manufacturing costs.
- Ensure key operational KPIs are accurately tracked, reported, and used to drive decision-making.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, managers, and department leaders.
- Promote accountability through consistent performance management and employee development.
- Support hiring, succession planning, workforce planning, and organizational development initiatives.
- Build strong cross-functional communication and collaboration across all departments.
Maintenance & Capital Projects
- Oversee preventive maintenance programs, equipment reliability initiatives, and capital improvement projects.
- Support equipment upgrades, facility improvements, and new product implementation.
- Ensure manufacturing equipment operates safely, efficiently, and reliably.
Customer & Operational Excellence
- Support customer audits, vendor visits, executive tours, and regulatory inspections.
- Ensure inventory accuracy, shipping performance, production planning, and supply chain execution meet customer expectations.
- Drive operational excellence while maintaining outstanding customer satisfaction.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive manufacturing experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of Plant Manager or senior manufacturing leadership experience.
- Demonstrated success leading large manufacturing operations.
- Strong understanding of production planning, inventory management, maintenance, quality systems, budgeting, and supply chain operations.
- Experience managing high-volume manufacturing environments.
- Proven ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Experience in one or more of the following is strongly preferred:
- Consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing
- Candle manufacturing or related industries
- Lean Manufacturing
- Continuous Improvement
- GMP environments
- SAP, MASS, or other ERP/WMS systems
- High-volume manufacturing operations
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Strategic Leadership
- Manufacturing Operations
- Continuous Improvement
- Lean Manufacturing
- Safety Leadership
- Quality Management
- Financial Management
- Budgeting & Cost Control
- Root Cause Analysis
- Production Planning
- Inventory Management
- Leadership Development
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Customer Focus
- Operational Excellence
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position is based within a fast-paced manufacturing environment and requires regular interaction with production employees, supervisors, maintenance personnel, quality teams, engineering, executive leadership, customers, and vendors. The Plant Manager should expect to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor supporting operations, coaching employees, solving problems, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
WHY WORK FOR PREMIER
- Competitive compensation package
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Paid vacation and company holidays
- 401(k) Retirement savings opportunities with 4% company matching
- Opportunity to lead a growing manufacturing operation during an exciting period of transformation and investment
- High-impact leadership role with the ability to shape plant culture and operational performance
- Collaborative executive leadership team committed to continuous improvement
QUESTIONS?
Reach out to us:
- Email: Talent@HRConsulting.llc
- Phone: (270) 331-7875
Premier Candle Corporation and HR Consulting Solutions LLC are Equal Opportunity Employers. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Benefits:
- 401(k) 4% Match
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you currently live in Hickory, Kentucky, or within approximately a 45-minute commute of the facility?
- If you do not live in/around Hickory, KY, would you be willing to relocate to the Western Kentucky area for this position?
- This position offers a base salary in the range of approximately $175,000, plus the opportunity to earn an annual production bonus of approximately 10%. Does this compensation align with your salary expectations?
- What is your highest level of education?
- How many total years of manufacturing experience do you have?
- How many years have you served as a Operations/Plant/Production Manager with overall responsibility for an entire manufacturing facility?
- Approximately how many employees have you directly or indirectly led in your largest manufacturing operation?
- Which industries have you worked in? (Let us know all that apply.)
1. Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) 2. Food & Beverage 3. Plastics 4. Automotive 5. Chemical 6. Packaging 7. Candle Manufacturing 8. Paper Products 9. Other (please specify)
- Have you been responsible for developing and managing an annual operating budget? If so, what was the annual operating budget you managed?
- Which of the following manufacturing systems or methodologies have you successfully implemented or managed? (Tell us all that apply.)
1. Lean Manufacturing 2. Six Sigma 3. Continuous Improvement 4. Kaizen 5. Root Cause Analysis 6. 5S 7. TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) 8. None of the above
- Have you been responsible for preventive maintenance programs, capital projects, or major equipment installations?
- Are you currently employed?
- Why are you interested in this Plant Manager opportunity with Premier Candle?
- If selected, when would you be available to begin employment?
- Thank you for taking the time to complete our pre-screening questionnaire. Please take a moment to tell us a little about YOU!
Work Location: In person
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