General Manager – Ontario, CA
Our client, a global leader in medical product sterilization and highly regulated healthcare services, is seeking a General Manager to lead its Ontario, California facility.
This is the senior site leadership role with responsibility for overall operations, people, safety, quality, regulatory compliance, customer service, continuous improvement, and financial performance. The facility operates in a technically complex, highly regulated environment utilizing Ethylene Oxide (EO) sterilization technology.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on operations leader who can run a complex facility while building a strong culture of accountability, engagement, safety, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Ontario facility.
- Lead cross-functional teams across Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS/Safety, Logistics, Customer Service, and Training.
- Drive operational performance across safety, quality, productivity, capacity, customer service, cost, and delivery.
- Develop and coach managers and employees while building a high-performing, accountable culture.
- Serve as a visible, hands-on leader across the operation.
- Handle employee-relations matters with sound judgment and partner with HR when escalation is appropriate.
- Maintain accountability for financial performance, including budgets, labor, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and P&L performance.
- Lead Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, OSHA, quality, environmental, and company requirements.
- Maintain strong relationships with key customers and resolve escalated operational or service issues.
- Partner with regional and corporate leaders across Operations, HR, Quality, Engineering, EH&S, Finance, and Commercial teams.
- Support site planning related to staffing, capacity, capital investment, and long-term growth.
- Maintain leadership visibility within a 24/7 operating environment.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, medical products, healthcare, life sciences, or another technical/highly regulated environment.
- 5+ years of management experience leading multiple functions or significant operational teams.
- Strong people-management skills with demonstrated success developing teams, managing performance, and driving accountability.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Kaizen, or similar continuous-improvement methodologies.
- Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing budgets, operating metrics, and preferably P&L responsibility.
- Experience with quality systems, regulatory compliance, safety, audits, and operational KPIs.
- Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, healthcare, sterilization, FDA-regulated, aerospace, or another compliance-intensive manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
- Previous General Manager title is not required; strong Plant Managers, Site Leaders, Directors of Operations, Manufacturing Directors, and Senior Operations Managers may be considered.
- Bachelor's degree preferred in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Life Sciences, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional experience may also be considered.
- MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
- Direct Ethylene Oxide (EO) or sterilization experience is highly desirable but not required.
- Must demonstrate strong work ethic, resilience, ownership, judgment, and ability to operate effectively in a demanding environment.
EO Site Requirements
Candidates must be medically approved for respirator use and able to tolerate exposure to elevated temperature and humidity conditions as required by the facility.
Why Join
This is an opportunity to lead a critical operation supporting the medical-products industry while having direct influence over site culture, people development, operational performance, customer service, and financial results.
The organization offers strong career stability, long employee tenure, and the opportunity to work in an essential industry with meaningful impact.
