Plant Manager
Pactiv Evergreen · Downingtown, PA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Pactiv Evergreen (industrial) in Downingtown, PA.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Kaizen, OEE, Root cause, EHS / safety
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Pennsylvania: typical posted base $145k–$200k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 37 production engineer openings in Pennsylvania, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Pennsylvania plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 36 other live production postings in Pennsylvania.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 7+)
Typical $127k–$165k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 49%
- ✓ Lean 43%
- ✓ EHS / safety 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Kaizen, OEE, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Pactiv Evergreen
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from Pactiv EvergreenAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
responsibilities
- ◆Cultivate a collaborative plant culture that encourages employee development, teamwork and adaptability
- ◆Evaluate and develop the existing talent found within the manufacturing plant
- ◆Build an efficient manufacturing operation through the reliance on standardized systems, reliable equipment performance and an adherence to process
- ◆Apply principles of lean manufacturing, as appropriate, to improve key business metrics via continuous improvement advancements, waste elimination (1st pass yield and Kaizen) and root cause analysis
- ◆Optimize plant performance (overall equipment efficiency/OEE) by maximizing labor efficiency while at the same time minimizing scrap and achieving the required product quality
- ◆Partner with commercial and R&D staff to identify opportunities for improvement in cost of manufacturing and product performance
- ◆Lead the plant management team by empowering, enabling and developing people to work effectively together as teammates
- ◆Ensure a collaborative culture is established throughout the Plant where employees are held accountable while at the same time coached and encouraged to reach their full potential
- ◆Ability to effectively communicate the business vision across all levels of the plant
- ◆Management of annual operating plan/budget & deployment of resources across the plant to deliver production commitments in key safety, quality, service, and cost target areas
- ◆Support internal customer groups to ensure attainment of profitability targets and delivery of finished product that meets customer quality expectations
- ◆Develop and execute the safety programs necessary to achieve and sustain a world-class safety record
- ◆Direct plant capital programs and expenditures to support strategic operational goals
- ◆Comply with all local, state and federal regulations
- ◆Manage operations through the use of the Pactiv Evergreen Production System (PEPS).
Requirements
- ✓Bachelor's Degree BA/BS degree in Business, Operations, Engineering or a related field is required
- ✓5-10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing dependent upon location size – preferably in a highly respected paper or consumer packaging manufacturing organization
- ✓Previous management/supervisory experience required
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Plant Manager
The Plant Manager position is responsible for all aspects of Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics, EH&S and Facilities at a given manufacturing plant in support of the AOP. The Plant Manager establishes local operating strategy, leads the manufacturing plant workforce and interfaces as necessary with key internal customers. The Plant Manager will typically be responsible for a plant employee population of 200 + employees working in a continuous 24/7 manufacturing operation.
Preferred Skills
- +Strong financial aptitude
- +This leader will have successfully implemented operational strategies and initiatives that have improved bottom-line profitability in a manufacturing environment
- +The leader must be high-energy with a creative approach to problem solving, possess strong analytical skills, and be a team player with exceptionally strong leadership skills
- +The leader must be an excellent judge of talent with a proven track record of attracting top performers and mentoring employees as their careers advance up through the organization
- +Ability to multi-task effectively while working across multiple layers of the organization. Proven ability to juggle multiple issues simultaneously, determining appropriate level of priority and resource allocation
- +The ideal candidate is a team builder that develops and drives high performance work teams aligned around the strategic operational initiatives of the manufacturing plant.
- +Ability to function as a strategic thinker without losing site of the critical details
- +Experienced at applying the principles of lean manufacturing to improve key plant metrics via continuous improvement advancements, waste elimination and root cause analysis problem solving
Company Benefits
Benefits
With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.
Community Engagement
At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.
Training and Development
We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.