Plant Manager

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionPlant Manager – Food Manufacturing OperationsClarkton, NCOverviewiBoostTalent is seeking a highly engaged, hands-on Plant Manager to support a well-established food manufacturing operation in Clarkton, NC. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of daily plant performance, including production, food safety, quality assurance, maintenance coordination, and warehouse logistics. The ideal candidate is a strong operational leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is committed to driving efficiency, maintaining compliance standards, and building a strong team culture focused on accountability, safety, and continuous improvement. Key ResponsibilitiesDirect daily plant operations to ensure production targets are consistently achieved across quality, safety, output, and efficiency standardsCoordinate short- and long-range production planning in partnership with operations leadership and scheduling teamsLead and support department supervisors across production, quality, maintenance, and warehouse functions to ensure alignment and communicationMaintain a strong safety-first culture while ensuring compliance with OSHA standards and food safety regulations including GMP, HACCP, and SQFTrack and analyze operational KPIs such as yield, downtime, waste, throughput, and labor efficiency to identify improvement opportunitiesDrive continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing productivity, reducing waste, and optimizing operational workflowsOversee maintenance planning efforts and collaborate with maintenance leadership to prioritize repairs and preventive maintenance schedulesEnsure proper training, development, and engagement of employees across all departmentsPartner closely with quality assurance leadership to uphold product consistency and compliance standardsParticipate in daily operational meetings to review performance, resolve issues, and align on production goalsManage operational budgets, monitor spending, and support cost control initiativesSupport HR and safety teams with policy enforcement, employee relations, and regulatory complianceMaintain accurate operational documentation, including production reports, safety logs, and compliance recordsSupport internal, customer, and regulatory audits as neededFoster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement across all plant functionsQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Industrial Management, Manufacturing, Food Science, or related discipline preferred (equivalent experience considered)5–7+ years of experience in food manufacturing, agricultural processing, or related production environmentsAt least 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience in a plant or manufacturing settingStrong understanding of production scheduling, workflow optimization, and operational performance managementWorking knowledge of GMP, HACCP, SQF, and other food safety and compliance standardsProven leadership ability with strong communication, coaching, and team development skillsExperience analyzing KPIs and driving data-informed operational improvementsFamiliarity with maintenance coordination and production equipment operationsComfortable managing budgets and controlling operational costsProficient with Microsoft Office tools; ERP or manufacturing systems experience preferredStrong problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindsetBilingual English/Spanish is a plus