Plant Manager

Plant Manager (m/f/d)

Location: Southern Germany / District of Lörrach

€110,000 – €120,000 basic salary

13th Month Payment = 13.5 Month

15% Performance Bonus

30 Days Leave

Company Pension Scheme

Health Insurance

Job Bike/Canteen + Other Great Benefits

Relocation Support Negotiable

Umbilical Search is pleased to partner with a global leader in the chemical manufacturing sector, operating one of the world’s most modern and largest production facilities for innovative products.

With a focus on sustainable growth and operational excellence, this company delivers top-tier products to international markets while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and environmental responsibility.

This 24/7, five-shift batch and continuous process manufacturing site boasts a fully integrated production flow with up to 60 pieces of specialised equipment, covering raw material handling, complex chemical and downstream processing, drying, blending, material handling and packaging.

As part of a strategic leadership enhancement, we are seeking a dynamic and technically proficient Plant Manager to lead operations, manage a talented team, and drive continuous improvement at this flagship facility.

For further information on this confidential assignment, please email an up-to-date CV and contact number to

Key Responsibilities:

Lead all aspects of production and operations for a 24/7 manufacturing plant operating across five shifts – You will work days Monday to Friday

Manage 40 direct production and operations staff, including 5 Shift Leaders and 25 operators, along with Plant Chemists and Continuous Improvement teams

Partner with central departments (H&S, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Finance) to support site activities without direct line management

Ensure production meets stringent quality, safety, regulatory, and customer requirements

Drive operational efficiency, throughput, cost control, and equipment reliability through lean manufacturing and preventive maintenance

Monitor KPIs including OEE, yield, downtime, scrap, deviations, staff availability, and absenteeism; implement corrective actions as needed

Oversee budget planning, cost control, and capital expenditure aligned with company financial guidelines

Develop a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, continuous improvement, and employee engagement

Manage recruitment, training, performance management, succession planning, and union relations with the Union and Workers’ Council

Coordinate with R&D, supply chain, and commercial teams for new product scale-up and technical transfers

Represent the plant during audits and ensure the timely resolution of any findings

About You:

Role: Plant Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Production Manager, Operations Manager or a related role

Education: PhD or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline

Extensive experience (3+ years) in manufacturing roles within chemical process industries, ideally in complex batch and continuous process plants

Proven leadership and personnel management skills with a track record of inspiring and developing teams

Strong knowledge of quality management systems and regulatory compliance

Experience with budgeting, cost control, and continuous improvement methodologies

Fluent in German and English, with excellent communication skills and a solution-oriented mindset

High learning agility and the ability to apply technical problem-solving in a complex environment

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the industry’s premier chemical manufacturing sites with full autonomy, making a tangible impact in a high-growth, innovation-driven environment.

How to apply:

Please click “apply” or for further information, please contact Ajay Bhella at Umbilical Limited, alternatively, please email me an up-to-date copy of your CV to

Umbilical Limited is committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. We act as a neutral third party in the recruitment process, basing our candidate searches on skills and experience.

We do not discriminate based on age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.