Plant Manager - Spiddal

Location: On site / Spiddle West, An Spidéal, Co. Galway, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Facilities Management Operations Manager
Salary: Competitive salary

Join Our Team as a Plant Manager in Spiddal!

At CWS Cleanrooms, we are looking for an experienced Plant Manager to lead our operations in Spiddal. This is an exciting opportunity for a driven operations leader to take ownership of plant performance, people development, safety, quality, and financial results while supporting the continued growth of a dynamic and customer-focused organisation.

Why Join CWS Cleanrooms?

At CWS Cleanrooms, we offer more than just a role. We provide the opportunity to make a real impact within a growing business that values operational excellence, continuous improvement, and strong leadership.

As a Plant Manager, you'll enjoy:

• Leadership Opportunity: Take ownership of a key operational site and drive performance across multiple functions.
• Career Growth: Join a successful international organisation with opportunities for professional development and progression.
• Continuous Improvement Culture: Lead Lean initiatives and help shape the future of our operations.
• Competitive Salary: Enjoy an attractive salary that reflects the importance and impact of this senior leadership position

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Performance

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the plant, ensuring strong performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People objectives.
• Manage resources, labour planning, and plant capacity to support productivity and operational efficiency.
• Monitor performance metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions where required.
• Drive operational excellence while ensuring customer requirements remain a key priority.
• Lead and support Production, Maintenance, Supervisory, and Area Leadership teams.
• Foster a positive, high-performing culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous development.
• Coach, mentor, and develop employees while supporting succession planning and future capability needs.
• Champion company values and promote strong leadership practices across the site.
• Take ownership of plant budgets, operating costs, and CapEx projects.
• Monitor financial performance and drive cost-efficiency initiatives while maintaining high safety and quality standards.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, and long-term operational planning activities.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance throughout the plant.
• Ensure adherence to ISO, GMP, and other applicable standards.
• Maintain audit readiness and lead investigations and corrective actions for operational issues.
• Identify and mitigate risks to protect employees, customers, and business performance.
• Lead the site's Lean and Continuous Improvement strategy.
• Drive initiatives including Standard Work, 5S, Kaizen, and Daily Performance Management.
• Encourage and empower teams to identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, and customer service.
• Ensure improvements are effectively implemented and sustained.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure customer expectations are reflected in operational priorities and decision-making.
• Support the resolution of significant customer-impacting issues and contribute to a customer-focused culture.

Required Skills & Experience

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in a related discipline.
• At least 5 years' experience in a senior production, operations or plant management role, with demonstrated responsibility for people, operational performance and financial management.
• Black belt in Standard Work or similar certification.
• Experience of working within a cleanroom environment is desirable, with an understanding of relevant standards, procedures and operational controls.
• At least 5 years' experience in people management, including leading, developing and managing performance within operational teams.

Knowledge and Behaviour

• Strong leadership and people management skills with experience developing high-performing teams.
• Proven experience within a manufacturing and/or cleanroom environment, with knowledge of ISO and GMP standards.
• Strong understanding of plant operations, production processes, and operational performance management.
• Lean Manufacturing expertise, including Standard Work, 5S, Kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Analytical and data-driven approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the business.
• Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to operational excellence, quality, and service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and sustain continuous improvement in a fast-paced operational environment.

Hours of Work

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Spiddal, Ireland.

• Monday to Friday
• Standard full-time working hours, with flexibility required
• Reporting to the Regional Operations Manager

Join CWS Cleanrooms and play a key role in driving operational excellence, leading high-performing teams, and shaping the future success of our Spiddal plant.