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Talent Insight: the real market for Operations Directors in plastics processing
Expert commentary from Stalwart Manacus
Every recruitment project at management level is, to a degree, a research project – because that is exactly what market mapping is. Before we send a candidate the first message, we ask ourselves: does the market hold people who meet the client’s requirements? And if it does, on what terms are they willing to talk? Market mapping is a useful exercise worth running before the client briefing, to ground the assumptions behind the process and make it run more smoothly.
Below is an overview of the market and the key findings from a project we ran for a client in plastics processing who was looking for an Operations Manager.The data we gathered offer a rare chance to look at the labour market through actual supply rather than claims made on job boards.
The scale of the analysis: 544 profiles, 18 recommendations
We began with systematic market mapping, reviewing 544 profiles of both active and passive candidates. Ninety-eight people qualified for a first telephone screening. After checking their expertise and motivation, we recommended 18 for the next stage – some actively interested, others on a watch list and ready to talk at the right moment.A match rate of about 3.3% is no accident. It reflects a very precise set of requirements and, at the same time, signals that this market is far narrower than it appears to anyone judging it by the number of adverts or applications.
The candidate profile we were looking for
We concentrated on people with at least six to ten years in production operations management, hands-on experience in injection moulding, a track record in restructuring, and a career combining a corporate environment with an owner-managed business. Of more than 540 profiles reviewed, only 18 met those criteria.The combination of corporate experience with work in an owner-managed company was particularly valuable. We were looking for someone who understands both the process discipline of large organisations and the flexibility and accountability that growing companies demand. Further requirements included a documented track record in organisational change, practical knowledge of lean manufacturing and 5S, and the ability to embed lasting cultural change.
Geography as a hidden risk factor
One finding worth sharing is how geographically concentrated the industry is. We mapped 198 plastics processing companies in Poland. More than 130 of them work in the packaging segment.The main production centres are Wielkopolska, Silesia and the Łódź region.
In Pomerania there are just eight such companies.
That means candidates with sector experience built up locally are few and far between. The great majority of matching profiles came from other regions, and for them willingness to relocate became a key and often decisive factor.
Important context for the process
A substantial share of the recommended candidates were available immediately or within a month and said they were open to relocating. Salary expectations fell in the range of PLN 25,000–35,000 gross per month, which looks appropriate to the market for this level of seniority and specialisation.
The conclusion: market mapping as a condition of successful recruitment
For highly specialised roles, market mapping is not optional – it is a condition of successful recruitment. Mapping can precede the process or form its first stage, providing a picture of candidate availability, expectations and the factors that drive their decisions. It is this knowledge that makes it possible not only to reach the right people, but also to judge whether the recruitment project itself is grounded in the reality of the market.
Are you planning a recruitment in production operations or plant management?
We can carry out a dedicated market review and show you the real availability of candidates in your sector and region before you decide how and where to look. It is a conversation that often changes the perspective on an entire project.
📩 biuro@stalwart-manacus.pl
📞 +48 509 660 343
