Plant Manager (Thailand - Greenfield)

A leading global manufacturer is seeking a Plant Manager (x1 vacancy) to spearhead the establishment and ongoing operation of a state-of-the-art hand tool forging facility in EEC area, Thailand. This is an opportunity for you to take full ownership of building a factory from the ground up, shaping every aspect from site selection through to daily operational excellence.

What you'll do:

As Plant Manager - Metal Forging Facility, you will play an important role in bringing a new manufacturing vision to life. Your days will be filled with diverse challenges: from orchestrating the physical build-out of the plant-including selecting its location and designing its layout-to ensuring seamless equipment commissioning. Once operational, your focus will shift towards optimising every facet of production: monitoring KPIs for safety and quality; driving productivity; reducing lead times; controlling costs; and embedding continuous improvement into daily routines.

The package includes base salary + bonus

• Lead the end-to-end setup of a new hand tool forging factory in Chonburi, managing all aspects from site selection and plant layout design to equipment installation and commissioning.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, and external partners to ensure timely delivery of the factory within budget and according to specification.
• Establish manufacturing systems, standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and internal controls from scratch to guarantee operational readiness.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations, labour laws, permitting requirements, and international best practices throughout the factory setup process.
• Take full responsibility for daily factory operations after startup by driving productivity improvements, efficiency gains, on-time delivery performance, lead time reduction initiatives, and inventory control measures.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality assurance, delivery reliability, and cost management.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles such as Kaizen and Six Sigma methodologies to enhance product quality and operational effectiveness.
• Develop and enforce a robust Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) management system that aligns with both local regulations and global standards while nurturing a strong safety culture.
• Build the entire factory organisation by hiring, onboarding, training production staff as well as engineering and support teams; develop frontline leaders through effective workforce planning and succession strategies.
• Act as the primary interface with regional and global leadership teams while collaborating cross-functionally with supply chain, engineering, finance, and quality functions; support customer audits and regulatory inspections.

What you bring:

To excel as Plant Manager - Metal Forging Facilityi, you will bring extensive experience gained within complex manufacturing environments-preferably those involving metal forming or heavy industry. Your background should include direct involvement in greenfield projects or significant factory expansions where you have overseen everything from initial concept through commissioning. You possess deep familiarity with modern production systems alongside robust knowledge of EHS best practices. Your interpersonal skills enable you to nurture talent at all levels-from recruiting new hires to mentoring supervisors-while promoting shared values around safety and continuous improvement. Experience working within multinational organisations equips you to communicate clearly across cultures; fluency in English is essential while Thai language skills offer added value. Your proven ability to implement Lean methodologies ensures ongoing operational enhancements. Above all else, your supportive leadership style inspires trust among colleagues as you guide them toward collective achievement.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering or a related field is required for this position.
• At least 10 years experience in manufacturing operations-ideally within hand tools, metal forging/forming or heavy industrial sectors-is essential for success.
• Demonstrated track record of setting up automated factories or leading major expansions in Thailand is highly valued.
• Comprehensive knowledge of production systems coupled with hands-on experience in EHS management is necessary for this role.
• Proven ability to drive productivity improvements through Lean manufacturing frameworks such as Kaizen or Six Sigma is expected.
• Experience building teams from scratch-including hiring, onboarding and developing frontline leaders-is crucial for this opportunity.
• Excellent communication skills in English are required; proficiency in Thai language would be considered an advantage but not mandatory.
• Exposure to multinational manufacturing environments will help you navigate cross-cultural collaboration effectively.
• Strong stakeholder management abilities are needed for interfacing with regional/global leadership as well as supporting audits/inspections.
• A practical approach combined with an execution-focused mindset ensures you deliver results while fostering teamwork.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a global leader committed to operational excellence through investment in advanced automation technologies and adherence to international standards. Employees benefit from flexible working opportunities that promote work-life balance alongside generous training programmes designed for personal growth at every career stage. The company fosters an inclusive environment where collaboration is encouraged across all levels-ensuring everyone feels valued regardless of background or experience. With a strong emphasis on safety culture and continuous improvement frameworks like Lean manufacturing embedded into daily practice, you can expect unwavering support from knowledgeable peers who share your passion for delivering outstanding results together. Joining this team means becoming part of a network dedicated not only to business success but also individual wellbeing-a place where your contributions truly matter.

What's next:

If you are ready to shape the future of manufacturing in Thailand while advancing your career within a supportive global network-this is your moment!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided; take the next step towards making an impact at one of the industry's most respected organisations.

Desired Skills and Experience

Green Field, BOI Registration, Operations Management, Continuous Improvement, Engineering, Hand tools, metal forging, metal forming, or heavy industrial manufacturing

Due to the high volume of applications, our team will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted.

Robert Walters Recruitment (Thailand) Limited
Recruitment License No.: น. 1188 / 2551