Monroe Consulting Group Indonesia, a leading executive recruitment firm, is currently recruiting on behalf of a newly established multinational oleochemical company located in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Our client is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Plant Manager with deep expertise in Soap Noodle production to lead the plant's operations and build a high-performing team from the ground up.
This is a critical leadership role for an industry professional who has direct experience managing soap noodle manufacturing lines and is passionate about driving operational excellence in a startup environment. The successful candidate will oversee the full production cycle, ensure compliance with international standards, and play a key role in establishing a world-class manufacturing facility.
General Responsibilities:
- Lead the end-to-end operations of a newly established soap noodle production facility, ensuring efficient start-up, ramp-up, and stable operations.
- Oversee day-to-day plant activities, including production, maintenance, quality, safety, and logistics to meet output, quality, and cost targets.
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and quality control measures tailored to soap noodle manufacturing.
- Build, lead, and train a high-performing operational team, fostering a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with engineering and project teams to ensure proper installation, commissioning, and optimization of plant equipment and utilities.
- Manage production planning, raw material coordination, and inventory to support timely and cost-efficient operations.
- Ensure full compliance with environmental, health, safety (EHS), and local regulatory requirements.
- Implement and maintain international quality standards (ISO, GMP, HACCP) applicable to oleochemical and soap noodle production.
- Monitor plant KPIs and generate regular reports for local and regional management.
- Identify and drive initiatives to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize resource utilization.
- Build strong working relationships with suppliers, service providers, and relevant government agencies.
Requirements:
- Minimum a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering background.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in the oleochemical industry, with proven expertise in managing soap noodle production specifically.
- Must have hands-on experience operating or managing a soap noodle manufacturing plant, including understanding of saponification processes, and quality control in soap noodle outputs.
- Demonstrated success in building and managing operational teams, especially in a start-up or greenfield factory environment.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to train and develop local teams and enforce operational discipline.
- Familiar with plant commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimization of manufacturing systems.
- Knowledge of ISO, GMP, HACCP, and EHS systems relevant to oleochemical plants
- Excellent communication and coordination skills; ability to work with both local teams and international management.
- Fluent in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
- Willing to be based full-time in North Sumatra and actively involved in on-site operations.
