Plant Manager

Description

• Comprehensive knowledge of food manufacturing, including plant operations and production management.
• Experience directing multiple plant functions to support production goals, sanitation requirements, and operational effectiveness.
• Ability to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, cost control, and production optimization.
• Strong understanding of food safety compliance, regulatory expectations, and operational improvement strategies.
• Proven leadership in building capable management teams and promoting accountability across plant operations.

Company Mission

To work as a team, taking responsibility for building loyalty with our customers and coworkers. We strive to exceed expectations by providing high-quality products and services with integrity, supporting all internal and external customers through a "Customer Service Plus 1" approach.

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and successful operation of QD Central while developing leadership capabilities within the team to support current and future management needs.

This position maintains a working knowledge of all plant operations, including Bakery, Commissary, Dairy, sanitation, staffing, food safety, maintenance coordination, production planning, and inventory management.

As a key operational leader, the Plant Manager supports daily production and facility execution, reinforces accountability, resolves operational challenges, and drives continuous improvement and long-term strategic initiatives. The Plant Manager works closely with department supervisors, employees, the CEO, Human Resources, and other internal and external partners to achieve operational, financial, quality, safety, and customer service objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Personnel, Leadership, and Team Development

• Communicate facility goals, operational priorities, and performance trends to employees and leadership teams.
• Establish departmental and individual goals aligned with company objectives and operational performance targets.
• Evaluate employee and leadership capabilities through coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels, scheduling, onboarding, and training to meet operational requirements.
• Develop and maintain succession plans for key positions throughout the facility.
• Learn the essential functions of all plant positions and establish, document, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Identify key employees and establish a train-the-trainer program to support consistent training and knowledge transfer.
• Mentor employees and supervisors to ensure training is effective, consistent, and aligned with company standards.
• Maintain accurate staffing schedules, timekeeping records, and payroll information within the company's payroll system.
• Develop a comprehensive working knowledge of departmental processes, equipment, workflows, and operating systems across Bakery, Commissary, and Dairy operations.
• Resolve routine operational and personnel issues independently while escalating significant or sensitive matters to Human Resources in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Cross-Training and Employee Development

• Serve as a resource for employees learning new operations, production stations, equipment, and procedures.
• Ensure cross-training opportunities and appropriate training resources are available to support operational flexibility.
• Demonstrate and reinforce established best practices, safety requirements, quality standards, and production procedures.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and hands-on support throughout cross-training activities.
• Coordinate with department management to monitor trainee progress, document competency, and assess readiness for assigned responsibilities.
• Support the development of a versatile, cross-trained workforce capable of meeting changing production and staffing needs.

Environmental Health, Safety, and Food Safety

• Enforce company safety policies and procedures in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with food safety programs, sanitation requirements, applicable regulations, and industry best practices.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and proactive hazard identification throughout the facility.
• Ensure employees receive appropriate safety, sanitation, and food safety training.
• Monitor compliance with established food safety controls and promptly address deficiencies.
• Support continuous improvement of food safety programs, procedures, documentation, and preventive controls.
• Ensure safety, sanitation, and food safety concerns are investigated, corrected, and documented as appropriate.

Production, Productivity, and Operational Excellence

• Establish and maintain operational standards for production throughput, labor utilization, capacity, efficiency, and product quality.
• Ensure finished products consistently meet company standards, approved specifications, food safety requirements, and customer expectations.
• Support supervisors in identifying, correcting, and preventing quality issues throughout the production process.
• Maintain an active presence on the production floor to verify product consistency, process compliance, packaging integrity, equipment readiness, and adherence to operational standards.
• Assist in investigating quality defects, process deviations, and customer complaints; identify root causes and implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure equipment, materials, labor, and other resources are available and coordinated to support planned production schedules.
• Provide operational leadership and support to supervisors and department teams to resolve production challenges and maintain workflow.
• Promote and implement Lean Manufacturing principles to improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Monitor production performance and address bottlenecks, downtime, scheduling conflicts, and other barriers to achieving operational targets.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead and support initiatives to improve production processes, product safety, quality, delivery performance, and cost efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to reduce scrap, waste, rework, downtime, and unnecessary labor costs.
• Encourage employee participation in problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate operational performance and implement corrective actions to address recurring issues.
• Standardize successful process improvements and communicate changes to affected employees and departments.

Inventory Management

• Optimize inventory levels for raw materials, work-in-process, packaging supplies, and finished goods.
• Coordinate inventory flow with production schedules, purchasing, and customer demand.
• Monitor inventory accuracy, product availability, and material utilization to minimize waste and avoid production disruptions.
• Identify and address excess inventory, shortages, spoilage, and other inventory-related inefficiencies.
• Support appropriate inventory rotation, storage, handling, and control practices.

Housekeeping and Facility Standards

• Ensure staffing and responsibilities are appropriately assigned to maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary facility.
• Reinforce housekeeping standards throughout production areas, storage areas, equipment spaces, and other operational areas.
• Ensure employees follow established cleaning and sanitation procedures.
• Monitor facility conditions and coordinate the timely correction of housekeeping, sanitation, and organizational deficiencies.

Customer Satisfaction and Service

• Align production planning and operational execution with customer demand, delivery schedules, and product quality expectations.
• Support timely resolution of customer concerns related to product quality, availability, and delivery.
• Coordinate with retail management and other internal customers regarding product requirements, ordering needs, and operational changes.
• Reinforce the company's "Customer Service Plus 1" philosophy in all internal and external interactions.

Research and Development

• Support the development and introduction of new products by coordinating production resources, equipment, staffing, and operational requirements.
• Assist in evaluating production feasibility, process capabilities, and resource needs for new product opportunities.
• Collaborate with relevant departments to support the transition from product concept and testing to production and customer delivery.

Fiscal Responsibility and Cost Management

• Participate in the development and management of operating budgets and capital expenditure (CAPEX) plans.
• Monitor monthly profit and loss (P&L) performance and capital expenditure programs in coordination with company leadership.
• Work with the Manufacturing Cost Accountant to prepare forecasts, evaluate business trends, and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Review production volumes, labor hours, scrap, and related operating metrics daily and weekly to monitor performance and protect profit margins.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining product quality, food safety, employee safety, and customer service standards.
• Monitor operating expenses and resource utilization to support financial objectives and responsible use of company resources.

Communication and Working Relationships

Facility Staff and Department Supervisors

• Communicate daily operational priorities, production schedules, staffing requirements, compliance expectations, and performance results.
• Support root-cause analysis, problem resolution, and accountability for operational outcomes.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

• Communicate facility performance, key operational metrics, significant issues, risks, and recommended corrective actions as needed.
• Provide updates on operational priorities, financial performance, staffing, and strategic initiatives.

Senior Cost Accountant

• Maintain daily communication regarding production performance, labor hours, scrap, operating costs, and other relevant financial and operational metrics.
• Support reporting, forecasting, and cost-control initiatives.

External Vendors and Intercompany Teams

• Coordinate with vendors, intercompany departments, and other external partners as needed to support operational continuity and business objectives.

Retail Management

• Communicate as needed regarding product availability, ordering requirements, production needs, quality concerns, and delivery expectations.

Human Resources Director

• Coordinate employee corrective actions, terminations, policy interpretation, and other personnel matters in accordance with company procedures.
• Seek guidance as appropriate to ensure compliance with employment policies and established HR practices.

Recruiting

• Assist in identifying qualified candidates for positions at QD Central.
• Support recruitment and staffing efforts to meet facility workforce requirements.

Required Skills and Physical Demands

Leadership and Professional Skills

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and time-management capabilities.
• Experience supervising employees and supporting hiring, onboarding, training, performance evaluations, and disciplinary processes in accordance with company policies.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Detail-oriented approach with an emphasis on accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and develop employees at multiple organizational levels.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound operational decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and committed to ongoing learning and professional development.
• Ability to work collaboratively with employees, management, customers, vendors, and other business partners.

Physical Demands and Work Schedule

• Ability to lift and carry up to 75 pounds, as required by job duties.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and to bend, twist, climb, and perform other physical activities associated with a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work in and move throughout production, warehouse, sanitation, and other facility areas.
• Flexibility to work/assure coverage for weekends, holidays, and varying schedules as necessary to support a seven-day operation.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Operations Management, a related technical field, or equivalent relevant education and experience.
• Five or more years of relevant professional experience, preferably in food manufacturing or food production.
• Prior experience in plant management, manufacturing operations, or production leadership.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Working knowledge of food safety requirements, sanitation practices, and standard operating procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage personnel, production schedules, operational performance, and cost-control initiatives.

General Statement of Responsibilities

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the role.

The employee may be required to perform other related duties and follow additional instructions as assigned by the supervisor, consistent with business needs and applicable company policies.

Requirements

Must pass criminal background check


Must pass drug screen (excluding THC)