Plant Manager

Solomon Page is supporting its client, an established North American food and beverage manufacturer, with a confidential search for an accomplished Plant Manager. The Plant Manager will lead all aspects of this hot-fill and aseptic beverage manufacturing operation. Reporting to the Manufacturing Director, East US, this individual will provide strategic direction and hands‑on leadership across Production, Quality and Food Safety, Maintenance, Engineering, Sanitation, Warehouse, Continuous Improvement, and related support functions. The Plant Manager will have approximately 10 direct reports and responsibility for an overall plant workforce of approximately 178 employees. This leader will ensure the facility consistently produces safe, high-quality products on schedule, in compliance with regulatory and customer requirements, and at the lowest sustainable operating cost.

• Base Salary: $200,000–$210,000

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day plant operations to achieve safety, food safety, quality, customer service, productivity, reliability, and financial objectives.
• Build and sustain a culture in which employee safety, food safety, quality ownership, accountability, and operational discipline are non‑negotiable.
• Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, GMPs, HACCP and preventive controls, company policies, customer standards, and third‑party audit requirements.
• Maintain strong operational control of hot‑fill and aseptic manufacturing processes, including thermal processing, CIP/SIP systems, sanitation, environmental monitoring, hygienic zoning, and package integrity.
• Partner closely with Quality and Food Safety leaders to maintain audit readiness, prevent contamination, manage deviations, conduct root‑cause analyses, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on OEE, throughput, yield, schedule attainment, labor productivity, conversion cost, material usage, and equipment reliability.
• Establish Maintenance and Engineering priorities that improve equipment uptime, reduce unplanned downtime, strengthen preventive maintenance programs, and support long‑term asset reliability.
• Develop, justify, and execute capital projects that improve safety, capacity, reliability, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
• Manage the plant operating budget, monitor financial performance, and deliver sustainable cost and productivity improvements.
• Develop plant leaders and employees through coaching, performance management, training, succession planning, and clear accountability systems.
• Sustain Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Serve as the senior site leader during customer visits, regulatory inspections, internal reviews, and third‑party certification audits.
• Maintain a visible presence on the plant floor and promote effective communication at every level of the organization.

Key Performance Measures

• Employee safety performance and safety‑culture maturity
• Food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance
• SQF, GFSI, customer‑audit, and inspection‑readiness results
• OEE, throughput, downtime, and production efficiency
• Schedule attainment, order fulfillment, and customer service
• Equipment reliability and preventive maintenance effectiveness
• Yield, waste, rework, and material usage
• Labor productivity, conversion cost, and budget performance
• Employee engagement, retention, training, and leadership development
• Continuous improvement savings and project execution
• Overall operational discipline and accountability

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for Production, Quality and Food Safety, Maintenance, Engineering, Sanitation, Warehouse, Continuous Improvement, and related plant functions.
• Establish clear expectations and plan, monitor, and evaluate team performance.
• Coach and develop direct reports while building an engaged, accountable, and high‑performing workforce.
• Establish goals and objectives aligned with business strategy and operational priorities.
• Routinely review plant performance with the leadership team and implement actions necessary to achieve targeted results.
• Ensure staffing levels and resources align with operational requirements and business needs.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen leadership capabilities throughout the facility.
• Empower employees to identify and address safety, food safety, and quality concerns within their areas of responsibility.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Food Science, Business, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• At least 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience, including significant plant or operations leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional manufacturing teams that include Production, Quality, Food Safety, Maintenance, Engineering, Sanitation, Warehouse, and Continuous Improvement.
• Strong working knowledge of GMPs, HACCP or preventive controls, sanitation programs, FDA regulations, and high‑hygiene manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience managing plant operating budgets, labor utilization, production performance, cost‑reduction initiatives, and capital projects.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to establish expectations, build accountable teams, coach leaders, resolve conflict, and communicate across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving ability using data‑driven decision‑making, root‑cause analysis, corrective action systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aseptic, hot‑fill, low‑acid beverage, dairy, food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of thermal processing, CIP/SIP systems, aseptic filling, package‑integrity programs, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and sanitation validation.
• Working knowledge of SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, GFSI, customer audits, FDA inspections, and similar certification programs.
• Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, OSHA, food safety, or operations leadership certifications.
• Experience leading facility expansions, production‑line start‑ups, major equipment installations, automation improvements, or capital‑intensive reliability projects.