Assistant Plant Manager (60481)

Come work with Tofurky! We are the Nation's leading manufacturer of plant-based proteins and dairy-free cheeses. Our range of 35+ products can be found in more than 25,000 grocery stores throughout North America. We're on a mission to erase the myth that people have to make a choice between enjoying tasty food OR taking care of themselves and the planet. We can do both.


Tofurky is hiring an Assistant Plant Manager to join our Operations Team. This position is full-time, onsite from our location in Hood River, OR.

What you'll do:

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Assistant Plant Manager (APM) will lead the Tofurky manufacturing and warehousing operations to meet or exceed safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives through effective utilization of personnel, equipment, systems, and facilities. This position is responsible for maintaining an efficient operational and warehousing environment by overseeing the day-to-day activities with a hands-on approach and collaborative style. This role is viewed as a key leader and contributor in building and maintaining a strong safety, food safety, and operational excellence culture for our dual site operations located in Hood River, OR.

The ideal candidate has a proactive, hands-on approach, leads with empathy, works to empower, coach, and motivate teams, and thrives in a data-driven manufacturing environment.


Direct reports: Production Manager, Production Scheduler, and Warehouse Lead.

Responsibilities include:

1. Direct and indirectly manage and support plant & warehouse operations including safety, environmental, food safety, quality, production, production scheduling, maintenance, continuous improvement, training, effective employee relations and engagement.
2. Coach and mentor others to effectively build a strong safety culture, practices, and behaviors.
3. Promote a zero-incident culture by putting and/or supporting processes, systems, and programs in place to recognize hazards and prevent incidents before they occur; Ensure all unsafe acts and unsafe working conditions are addressed to completion.
4. Effectively coach and guide department leadership in the development of labor usage strategies; Optimize resource utilization strategies while reacting to changes in production demands and deadlines.
5. Coordinate plant activities through planning with departmental managers to ensure the total manufacturing objectives are accomplished in a timely and cost-effective manner.
6. Ensure personnel adhere to Tofurky internal policies, all legal requirements, and local/state health and safety regulations.
7. Key partner with the Human Resources department to develop and drive positive employee relations and engagement.
8. Oversee all aspects of Production Planning and Scheduling; Understands the manufacturing processes and needs to ensure a streamlined, cost-effective, and efficient manufacturing schedule.
9. Support the R&D team in new product and/or process development; supports production runs, costing of labor, and scrap/yield standards for new products.
10. Analyze and drive action for manufacturing variances within packaging and ingredients, yields/waste streams, line performance, and labor usage; leads management team to implement waste/loss reduction strategies.
11. Continuous improvement site champion; responsible for building, implementing, and maintaining a continuous improvement mindset.
12. Strategically managing the warehouse environment in compliance with the company's policies and vision.

1. Oversee receiving, warehousing, order building and finished good inventory storage operations; ensures efficient space utilization.
2. Oversee truck scheduling and dock usage.
3. Conduct physical counts of products and reconciling with ERP system to maintain inventory accuracy by scheduling cycle counts, managing shelf life on held inventory by using FIFO/FEFO practices.
4. All other duties as required.

Work Environment

This job operates in both a clerical, office and manufacturing setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. This position is frequently required to enter the production floor and must follow personnel procedures pertaining to dress and code of conduct in that area.

Physical Demands

This job operates in an office setting with frequent exposure to the production areas. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. This position is regularly required to the production floor and must follow personnel procedures pertaining to dress and code of conduct in those areas.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a salaried, exempt on-site position. Typical days and hours of work are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Some flexibility in work schedule is required to accommodate the needs of staff on multiple shifts. Occasionally required to work long days and/or on weekends based on the needs of the business.

Travel

No out-of-area travel is expected.

Required Education and Experience

1. Bachelor's degree from a four-year university - preferable in business, supply chain, food science, or related field.
2. Minimum of 6 years' experience within a manufacturing environment with demonstrated progressive management experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Previous experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods.
2. Bilingual - English and Spanish.
3. Demonstrated leadership for safety and quality initiatives that drive zero-incident culture.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
5. Experience collaborating and influencing cross-functionally within an organization.
6. Experience building and maintaining high-performing teams.
7. Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement across plant functions.

What we'll do:

We know you're valuable, and we'll work hard to keep you challenged. Employees will receive the following benefits:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• 100% employer-paid comprehensive medical and vision coverage, 80% employer-paid dental benefits.
• Generous retirement savings program: We care about your future. Tofurky offers a 3% 401k contribution to all employees, whether or not they choose to participate in the program. We also provide an employer match for all eligible employees that want to contribute to their 401k.
• Employer-paid Term Life Insurance, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Company-paid Personal Time Off, Volunteer Time Off, and Holidays.

At Tofurky, we don't all have the same beliefs about diet, sustainability, or what goes best with French fries. We're not a monoculture (and we like it that way). But we can all get behind our mission of respect: whether it's respect for our shared planet, for all species, for human health, or for our community and workforce.

Currently, The Tofurky Company does not support immigration processing or provide Visa sponsorship. All applicants must be able to provide legal proof of their eligibility to work in the U.S.

How to apply: Please submit your application and upload your resume online at

The Tofurky Company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Tofurky Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.