Plant Director

THE ROLE: This position will report to the: VP of Operations Travel Requirement: Up to 20% Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA FLSA Status: Exempt Employment Category: Full-Time Regular Pay Range: $190k - $210k Generous Brands is dedicated to inspiring people to thrive through the power of vibrant nutrition through its leading brands, Bolthouse Farms, Health-Ade, and Evolution Fresh. Generous Brands partners with SAMBAZON to manufacture, distribute and sell SAMBAZON branded beverages. Bolthouse Farms is a pre-eminent provider of chilled juice, smoothies, shakes, and protein drinks. Health-Ade is the fastest growing kombucha brand, dedicated to creating bubbly beverages that boost gut health. Evolution Fresh is a premier cold-pressed juice brand with national availability. And, SAMBAZON beverages bottle the superfruit power of açaí in juice and natural energy cans. The company operates its North American business from facilities in Southern California, and the Greater Chicago Area. To learn more, please visit WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THIS ROLE The Plant Director provides full strategic and operational leadership for Evolution Fresh’s Rancho Cucamonga manufacturing facility. This role is accountable for delivering world-class performance across safety, quality, service, cost, sustainability, and culture. The Plant Director drives measurable savings, operational efficiency, and structural cost improvements while continuously challenging legacy practices and driving operational discipline. This leader establishes disciplined management systems and leverages Lean Six Sigma best practices to strengthen performance across all plant functions. The role ensures the site remains a flagship facility within Generous Brands — sustaining BRC AA+ certification, TRUE Zero status, and a strong Great Place to Work culture. JOB DUTIES: Safety & Regulatory Compliance Champion a zero-incident safety culture with visible leadership and accountability at all levels. Ensure full compliance with OSHA, FDA, state, and local regulatory requirements. Drive proactive risk identification and continuous safety system improvement. Food Safety, Quality & Audit Excellence Maintain and continuously improve the site’s BRC AA+ certification, the highest possible rating, ensuring rigorous adherence to all standards. Lead audit readiness for BRC, Organic, regulatory, and customer audits with a “always ready” mindset. Drive a culture where food safety and quality are non-negotiable and embedded in daily operations. Continuously reduce consumer complaints, holds, and quality losses through disciplined root cause analysis and prevention systems. Operational Performance & Efficiency Own and deliver plant performance across OEE, throughput, yield, labor efficiency, scrap, cost-per-gallon, and service metrics. Drive aggressive cost savings initiatives, productivity improvements, and waste reduction efforts. Challenge legacy processes and organizational norms to unlock new levels of efficiency and performance. Lead structured problem-solving to eliminate chronic losses and improve asset reliability. Align production plans with demand while minimizing overtime and cost variability. Continuous Improvement & Cost Leadership Lead and mature CI systems including daily operational meetings, visual management, standard work, layered process audits, and root cause problem-solving. Deliver year-over-year productivity and cost improvement targets aligned with EBITDA commitments. Identify automation, process redesign, and capital opportunities that drive long-term structural cost advantage. Create a culture that expects continuous improvement rather than incremental maintenance of the status quo. Sustainability & TRUE Zero Leadership Lead and sustain the site’s TRUE Zero Waste certification, ensuring landfill diversion goals remain a top operational priority. Integrate sustainability into daily decision-making, capital planning, and team engagement. Drive continuous improvement in waste reduction, energy efficiency, water stewardship, and environmental compliance. Reinforce sustainability as a shared responsibility across all functions. Financial Stewardship Own full plant P&L performance and annual operating plan commitments. Manage operating budgets, capital planning, and cost controls with strong financial rigor. Drive disciplined labor planning, inventory management, and working capital optimization. Ensure financial decisions are supported by strong data analytics and operational insights. People, Culture & Great Place to Work Maintain and strengthen the site’s Great Place to Work culture through leadership visibility, engagement, and accountability. Champion a Culture of Excellence that balances high performance with respect, development, and recognition. Build and develop a strong leadership bench with clear succession plans. Foster cross-functional collaboration and ownership at all levels. Model Generous Brands values in all interactions and decisions. Drive employee engagement scores upward year over year through action-oriented follow-through. Strategic Alignment & Change Leadership Translate corporate strategy into executable site-level roadmaps. Lead change initiatives effectively across operations, engineering, and support functions. Act as a key voice in network strategy, capacity planning, and capital allocation decisions. Communicate transparently and align teams during periods of transformation. Leadership Expectations Challengers complacency and drives disciplined execution. Demonstrates strong financial acumen and operational analytics capability. Visible, floor-based leadership presence. Makes tough decisions with clarity and integrity. Balances urgency with long-term strategic thinking. Holds teams accountable for measurable results. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field 10+ years of progressive leadership in food & beverage manufacturing. 5+ years in a senior plant leadership role (Plant Manager or Director). Demonstrated experience maintaining BRC/SQF certification at highest level. Strong working knowledge of BRC/SQF systems and regulatory food safety standards. Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving methodologies. Proven track record of delivering cost savings, productivity improvements, and EBITDA growth. Experience leading sustainability initiatives and waste reduction programs. Mechanical/Technical Aptitude to troubleshoot minor equipment failures and make minor adjustments Math skills combined with the ability to perform and understand scientific based tests and results Knowledge of computer applications such as Microsoft office, Word, Excel etc. Communicate and interact well with others in the laboratory and manufacturing environment Able to work over 40 hours, weekends, and flexible hours when business need arises Ability to work with minimal supervision and apply common sense of Good Laboratory Practices PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experienced in refrigerated beverage manufacturing, HPP, cold-fill, or aseptic processing Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt). Experience leading TRUE Zero or equivalent sustainability programs. Demonstrated success driving Great Place to Work or high-engagement culture initiatives. Experience managing large and complex workforce. PHYSICAL DEMANDS & ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time. Must be able to work in environmental exposure including, but not limited to, freezer and noisy, cold, wet, or humid conditions of 34°F or below. Occasional exposure to fumes, airborne particles, toxic, and/or caustic chemicals. Occasional material exposure to moving mechanical parts and equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, etc.). WHAT WE OFFER plus more! Our rich benefits packages are designed to support the health and well-being of both our eligible team members and families. Medical, Dental & Vision Group Life and AD&D Voluntary Life and AD&D Group Short & Long-Term Disability 401(k) Paid Time Off Flexible Spending Accounts Employee Assistance Program Gym Membership Discounts EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a culturally diverse organization. We strive for inclusiveness and a workplace where mutual respect is paramount. We encourage applications from a diverse pool of candidates, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or veteran status. We will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, as needed, to assist them in performing essential job functions. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you are interested in applying for employment with Generous Brands and need special assistance to apply for a posted position, or if you believe you do not meet any of the required qualifications of a posted position due to a protected disability and would like to explore the possibility of an accommodation, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at View email address on click.appcast.io RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Generous Brands does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Generous Brands is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. #LI-CG1 #EvolutionFresh #RanchoCucamonga #BeverageManufacturing-QA 1st shift (8:00am-5:00pm) Monday through Friday, with work across 2nd and 3rd shifts when required #J-18808-Ljbffr