Plant Manager - Boardman, OR

Join a Family-Owned Industry Leader in Food Manufacturing The Oregon Potato Company (OPC) is a respected, family-owned food processing company with a legacy of quality, integrity, and innovation. With multiple facilities across the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, OPC is proud to support America’s food supply chain with premium dehydrated, frozen, and specialty vegetable and fruit products. We are currently seeking a Plant Manager to lead our Boardman, OR facility—an important site in our network. This is a key leadership role, responsible for all plant operations, including production, maintenance, and quality, safety, and team development. Position Summary Reporting to the Senior Director of Operations, the Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing all production and logistics activities at the facility. This role serves as the primary liaison between the plant and corporate leadership, managing a multi-shift operation across multiple departments to ensure alignment with organizational objectives. The Plant Manager directs and controls all aspects of production operations within established capital and operating budget parameters, ensuring efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. This position is accountable for developing and executing strategic production plans that support the company’s long-term goals, including planning for facility expansion, equipment optimization, and workforce development. Additionally, the Plant Manager leads, develops, and mentors the plant leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. This role works collaboratively with cross‑functional partners to drive performance, enhance processes, and achieve business objectives. Position Responsibilities Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring and guidance to plant management throughout floor level associates, focusing on talent acquisition, retention and development. Provide strategic and hands‑on leadership to all operational functions of the Boardman plant. Responsible for safety, food safety, quality, product availability, customer service and cost performance within the facility by leading with a zero‑injury mentality. Drive safety, food safety, and quality assurance compliance in accordance with company, USDA, FDA, and OSHA standards. Implement and sustain a culture of continuous improvement using Lean tools (5S, visual management, root cause analysis). Collaborate with cross‑functional teams on production scheduling, inventory control, and cost management. Lead and mentor a team of supervisors, leads, and hourly staff, promoting accountability, engagement, and growth. Develop scorecards and metrics to ensure plant’s productivity meet targeted goals. Collect and analyze performance metrics (OEE, downtime, yield, labor efficiency) implement and identify continuous improvement opportunities. Stay abreast of new and changing technology and regulatory requirements. Champion plant‑wide initiatives to increase reliability, reduce waste, and maximize throughput. Balance daily management with long‑term strategic planning to ensure business success. Support capital projects, maintenance priorities, and technical upgrades as needed. Perform other duties as assigned. What We’re Looking For 8+ years of leadership experience in a high-volume food processing or manufacturing environment (vegetables/potatoes a plus). Strong understanding of production planning, preventative maintenance, and quality systems (HACCP, GMPs). Proven ability to lead teams through change while maintaining performance and morale. Excellent decision‑making, communication, and organizational skills. Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Six Sigma principles. Excellent planning and general management skills are required. Good computer skills are required: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Ability to work well under pressure with multiple demands in a team environment is required. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, is required. Ability to foster a collaborative, respectful, and safety‑first culture on the floor. Experience working in rural or agricultural‑based manufacturing settings is a plus. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or a related field preferred (or equivalent experience). Why OPC? Family‑Owned and Operated: We value relationships and integrity. Impactful Leadership Role: Make real decisions, lead real change. Community‑Oriented Culture: Be part of a team that cares about people and place. Stability and Growth: A growing organization with deep roots in U.S. agriculture. #J-18808-Ljbffr