Plant Manager

The Plant Manager is responsible for the full-scope leadership of Pacific American Fish Co.'s processing, warehousing, and distribution operations. This role owns production throughput, food safety and regulatory compliance, labor management, capital asset stewardship, and financial performance of the facility. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in seafood or perishable food manufacturing, a data-driven approach to operational excellence, and the people-management skills to build and sustain a high-performance team in a fast-paced, temperature-controlled environment.


Key Responsibilities


Production & Processing Operations
• Direct day-to-day seafood processing activities - receiving, thawing, processing, portioning, packaging, and cold storage - ensuring throughput targets and yield standards are consistently met.
• Develop and implement production schedules aligned with customer orders, inventory levels, and seasonal supply variability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, 5S, or equivalent) to eliminate waste, reduce downtime, and optimize line efficiency.
• Monitor and report key production KPIs including throughput, yield, labor efficiency, downtime, and cost per pound processed.


Warehousing & Inventory Control
• Oversee refrigerated and frozen warehouse operations, including slotting, receiving, putaway, pick/pack, and cycle counting.
• Maintain inventory accuracy targets (≥ 99%) through disciplined lot tracking, FIFO rotation, and WMS discipline.
• Manage raw material and finished goods inventory levels to minimize waste, spoilage, and carrying costs while ensuring fill-rate commitments.
• Partner with procurement and sales on demand planning inputs and slow-moving or aging inventory disposition.


Logistics & Distribution
• Coordinate outbound shipping operations, including scheduling of refrigerated carriers, route optimization, and on-time delivery performance.
• Serve as the operational point of contact for third-party logistics providers, freight brokers, and fleet vendors.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of shipping documentation, Bills of Lading, COOL labeling, and chain-of-custody records.


Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance
• Maintain and enforce HACCP, SQF (or equivalent GFSI scheme), FSMA, and applicable FDA/USDA regulations across all plant operations.
• Lead internal audits, corrective action processes, and third-party certification renewals; serve as primary contact during regulatory inspections.
• Ensure sanitation programs, allergen controls, and pest management protocols are executed consistently and documented thoroughly.
• Champion a food safety culture where every team member understands their role in delivering safe, high-quality product.


Facility & Equipment Maintenance
• Manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs for all processing equipment, refrigeration systems, conveyors, and facility infrastructure.
• Develop and track maintenance KPIs (uptime %, MTTR, PM completion rate) and manage relationships with equipment OEMs and service contractors.
• Oversee capital project planning and execution - equipment upgrades, capacity expansions, and energy-efficiency improvements.
• Ensure facility compliance with building codes, fire safety, EPA, and OSHA standards.


P&L Ownership & Financial Management
• Own the plant's operating budget; prepare annual budgets and monthly forecasts, and deliver variance analysis with actionable corrective plans.
• Identify and execute cost-reduction opportunities across labor, materials, utilities, and maintenance without compromising food safety or quality.
• Track and report against departmental KPIs in weekly and monthly operational reviews with senior leadership.
• Collaborate with Finance on cost accounting, standard costing, and inventory valuation accuracy.


People Leadership & Culture
• Lead, develop, and retain a diverse team of supervisors, leads, and hourly production associates across multiple shifts.
• Build a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and respect; model these values in daily interactions.
• Partner with HR on recruiting, onboarding, performance management, progressive discipline, and workforce planning.
• Ensure effective training programs are in place for food safety, GMP, equipment operation, and workplace safety.


Working Conditions


This role operates in a refrigerated food manufacturing environment, with ambient temperatures typically ranging from 34°F to 55°F on the production floor and sub-zero freezer areas. The Plant Manager is expected to spend significant time on the floor engaging with teams and operations rather than at a desk. Schedule requirements include availability for multi-shift oversight, weekend operations, and on-call response to facility or food safety emergencies. Personal protective equipment (PPE), including steel-toed boots, hairnets, gloves, and hearing protection, is required in designated areas.


Compensation and Benefits


Competitive salary based off experience. Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K with employer match, paid time off, and holidays.

Education
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and hands-on operational leadership experience will be considered.


Experience
• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive operations or plant management experience in a food manufacturing environment; seafood or perishable proteins strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership, including budget preparation, variance analysis, and cost reduction delivery.
• Proven track record leading multi-shift operations with 50+ hourly employees in a regulated environment.
• Experience managing or implementing WMS, ERP, or production scheduling systems.


Certifications & Technical Knowledge
• HACCP certification required; SQF Practitioner or PCQI preferred.
• Working knowledge of FDA FSMA requirements, USDA oversight (where applicable), COOL compliance, and OSHA 1910 general industry standards.
• Familiarity with refrigeration systems (ammonia or HFC) and cold-chain management practices.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); comfort with data dashboards and operational reporting tools.


Skills & Attributes
• Exceptional leadership presence - able to motivate and hold accountable a large, diverse hourly workforce.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable with data and KPI-driven decision-making.
• Clear, direct communicator - equally effective on the production floor and in executive presentations.
• High integrity; thrives in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift with market or supply conditions.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus given the typical production floor demographic.