232 Interim Plant Manager with Turnaround Experience

About Our Client:

Our client is a prominent international industrial group with operations spanning Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Known for its excellence in advanced industrial manufacturing, the company supports demanding industries through a network of world-class production facilities. One of its flagship plants in Southern Poland, employing fewer than 500 people, is currently undergoing a critical turnaround program, underpinned by a multi-million investment in systems, automation, and workforce transformation. This site is central to the group’s European production network and a key priority for delivering sustainable improvements in productivity, cost efficiency, and manufacturing excellence.

Project Description:

We are searching for a high-impact Interim Plant Manager to lead this transformation. The role reports directly to the Group COO and sits at the nexus of local execution and group-level strategic oversight. It requires strong leadership in a matrix organization, balancing cooperation with local management and close alignment with international group stakeholders. Key Responsibilities

• Lead full operational responsibility for a site with <500 employees and 5 direct reports.
• Execute a comprehensive turnaround strategy focused on Lean Manufacturing, cost reduction, and quality improvement.
• Drive rightsizing, automation rollout, and cultural change initiatives.
• Lead daily gemba routines, implement performance coaching, and instill accountability across all levels.
• Operate as the main point of integration between local operations and group HQ, ensuring transparent communication and strategic cohesion.
• Build shopfloor engagement and empower the workforce through structured training and leadership visibility.

Interim Manager Required Skills:

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience as a Plant Manager or Operations Director in industrial manufacturing environments.
• A proven track record in turnaround management and manufacturing excellence delivery.
• Expert-level knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement practices.
• Strong command of performance systems such as SAP.
• A hands-on leadership style and the ability to manage mature or change-resistant teams.
• Comfort operating within matrix structures and high-level stakeholder environments.
• Full availability for an on-site assignment in Southern Poland.
• Fluency in Polish is mandatory; English fluency is also required.

Expats or international interim managers with previous experience working in Poland are highly welcome.

Key Requirements:

• Manufacturing Experience. Turnaround Track Record

Type of Assignment:

• Interim

Scope of Interim Assignment:

• Turnaround and Efficiency

Functional Area of the Interim Manager:

• Plant Management

Location:

• Southern Poland

Duration:

• 6+ months

Start Date:

• May 2025

Why work with us?:

CE Interim delivers proven executive interim leaders within 72 hours across borders, cultures, and industries. We specialize in high-impact interim management for private equity firms, family offices, and global corporations facing moments of transition: digital transformation, market entry, operational turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis.

What sets us apart is not just the speed or depth of our network, it’s how we lead. Every engagement is personally guided by a CE Interim managing partner: former CEOs, CFOs, or COOs who’ve been on your side of the table, steering organizations through high-stakes decisions.

With a global talent pool and operational reach spanning Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, we don’t fill roles, we build trust, lead transitions, and deliver outcomes.

As part of the Valtus Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of Executive Interim Management companies, we ensure seamless international execution through 25+ offices and 80+ senior partners in over 50 countries.

Executive Leadership Breaking Borders. Outcomes Without Compromise.