General Manager

General Manager

Location: Normal, Illinois (Onsite)

Travel: Up to 15%

Compensation: $90,000 - $100,000 Base + Performance Incentive Opportunity

Opportunity Overview

An established operations-focused organization is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a high-volume processing facility. This role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of site operations, including workforce leadership, safety performance, operational efficiency, financial management, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The General Manager will provide strategic and hands-on leadership to a workforce of approximately 40 employees across multiple departments and shifts. The successful candidate will be a visible leader who excels at building teams, improving performance, driving accountability, and creating a culture focused on operational excellence.

What You'll Do

Lead Facility Operations

• Direct all daily operational activities to ensure productivity, quality, and service goals are achieved.
• Manage personnel planning, staffing, scheduling, onboarding, and workforce development.
• Monitor operational performance metrics and implement initiatives to improve efficiency and throughput.
• Partner with department leaders to identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks.
• Ensure effective utilization of labor, equipment, and facility resources.
• Drive process improvements that increase quality, reliability, and operating performance.

Manage Financial Performance

• Oversee site budgets and financial results.
• Monitor labor expenses, operating costs, and productivity measures.
• Develop action plans to improve profitability and operational effectiveness.
• Support forecasting, planning, and monthly business reviews.

Champion Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong culture of workplace safety and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Lead root-cause investigations related to incidents and operational disruptions.
• Conduct audits, inspections, and training initiatives focused on risk reduction.

Build High-Performing Teams

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and frontline leaders.
• Establish clear expectations and performance standards.
• Foster employee engagement and retention through effective communication and leadership.
• Address employee relations matters professionally and consistently.
• Create development plans that prepare future leaders within the organization.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with maintenance, transportation, finance, human resources, and commercial teams.
• Support customer and vendor relationships as needed.
• Provide operational reporting and performance updates to senior leadership.
• Drive alignment between corporate objectives and facility execution.

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience within industrial, manufacturing, distribution, logistics, production, or processing environments.
• Experience managing large hourly workforces and frontline leadership teams.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-shift operations.
• Strong operational and financial management experience, including budget accountability.
• Background utilizing KPIs and operational metrics to drive business decisions.
• Proven ability to implement process improvements and operational efficiency initiatives.

Desired Skills

• Experience overseeing facilities with complex equipment and production processes.
• Knowledge of maintenance planning and equipment reliability programs.
• Experience working within fast-paced operational environments.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.
• Exposure to unionized work environments.
• Continuous Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or related operational excellence methodologies.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is:

• A hands-on leader who is comfortable spending time on the production floor.
• A strong communicator who builds trust and accountability.
• Highly organized and capable of balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day execution.
• Data-driven and comfortable making decisions based on operational performance metrics.
• Skilled at coaching, developing, and motivating teams.
• Adaptable and effective in dynamic operational environments.

Why This Role?

• Significant leadership responsibility and operational autonomy.
• Opportunity to shape culture, processes, and business performance.
• Direct impact on employee engagement, productivity, and profitability.
• Stable operation with strong growth potential.
• Visible leadership position with interaction across multiple business functions.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $90,000 - $100,000
• Performance Incentive Program
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage