Plant Manager

Our client is an established food manufacturing company seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and team development. THE OPPORTUNITY The Plant Manager will be responsible for all aspects of daily plant operations, leading a team of production and support employees to ensure safe, efficient manufacturing and the delivery of high-quality products on time and within budget. This individual will be a hands-on, results-oriented leader who combines strong operational execution with the ability to develop people, improve processes, and build a culture of accountability. A Lean thinker with a servant leadership mindset, the successful candidate will maintain a visible presence on the plant floor, demonstrate a strong sense of urgency, and actively engage employees in identifying and implementing improvements. The Plant Manager must be able to prioritize competing demands, execute multiple initiatives, and establish sustainable operating practices that support the continued growth and success of the facility. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Provide overall leadership and direction for daily manufacturing operations, ensuring alignment with company objectives. Lead, coach, and develop production and operations teams to achieve performance goals. Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor, actively engaging employees and addressing operational challenges. Establish and monitor key performance indicators across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and resource utilization. Drive operational improvements focused on efficiency, cost reduction, waste elimination, and manufacturing performance. Establish clear priorities, measure results, and hold team members accountable for performance. Support the development and execution of plant operating budgets. Collaborate effectively with Human Resources, Quality Assurance, R&D, Sales, Finance, and other functional partners. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, accountability, and employee engagement. Oversee production activities to ensure customer requirements, production schedules, and delivery commitments are consistently met. Coordinate staffing, equipment, materials, and production resources to maximize operational efficiency. Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles and the Theory of Constraints. Identify and implement improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, equipment performance, and scrap reduction. Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly operating reports, including performance metrics and corrective action plans. Partner with Human Resources to support workforce planning, staffing, training, and employee development. Implement process improvements and change management initiatives that strengthen operational performance and employee adoption. Food Safety & Quality Ensure manufacturing operations comply with all applicable food safety, quality, customer, and regulatory requirements. Partner closely with Food Safety and Quality Assurance leadership to maintain SQF compliance and audit readiness. Support quality improvement initiatives, corrective actions, audit preparation, and employee training. Promote a culture in which food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance are fundamental operating priorities. Ensure established policies, procedures, and work instructions are consistently followed. Warehouse, Inventory & Logistics Oversee plant-level inventory management, material flow, warehousing, and shipping activities. Collaborate with appropriate departments to maintain accurate raw material, production, and finished goods inventories. Ensure inventory and shipment targets support production requirements and customer commitments. Identify opportunities to improve material utilization, inventory efficiency, and overall plant capacity. Maintain overall accountability for a safe and clean manufacturing environment. Champion a proactive safety culture through employee engagement, training, and consistent accountability. Ensure plant operations comply with applicable safety regulations, policies, and standards. Oversee implementation and ongoing improvement of plant safety programs. Ensure required safety training, documentation, and corrective actions are completed. Maintenance, Equipment & Capital Projects Provide leadership and oversight of plant maintenance activities to ensure equipment reliability and operational continuity. Oversee capital improvement projects, equipment upgrades, and facility enhancements. Monitor equipment effectiveness, maintenance performance, and return on capital investments. Identify opportunities to improve equipment utilization, minimize downtime, and increase manufacturing capacity. Stay informed of emerging manufacturing technologies and operational best practices. LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS Lead with a hands-on, collaborative, and servant leadership approach. Build trust and credibility through regular engagement with employees at all levels. Establish clear expectations, reinforce accountability, and recognize individual and team accomplishments. Develop a high-performing team through coaching, mentoring, training, and succession planning. Demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to identify challenges, develop practical solutions, and execute with urgency. Effectively lead organizational and process changes while gaining employee engagement and adoption. Make appropriate staffing and performance management decisions consistent with company policies. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field. Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including significant plant leadership responsibility. Food manufacturing experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated success managing production operations, improving manufacturing performance, and developing high-performing teams. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, labor utilization, material flow, plant layout, and operational systems. Significant experience implementing Lean manufacturing principles and the Theory of Constraints. Experience managing safety, quality, productivity, cost, and delivery performance. Working knowledge of food safety and quality systems, including SQF requirements. Experience supporting capital projects, maintenance initiatives, and manufacturing process improvements. Proven ability to lead change management initiatives and build employee engagement. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Willingness to maintain an active, hands-on presence in the manufacturing environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr