The Plant Manager is responsible for leading all manufacturing operations at a manufacturing facility with approximately 250 employees. This role ensures safe, efficient, and compliant operations while meeting production, quality, cost, and service objectives. The Plant Manager reports directly to the General Manager and partners closely with cross functional leaders to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide day to day leadership for plant operations, including production, maintenance, quality, sanitation, warehousing, and shipping.
• Execute production plans to meet volume, quality, cost, and on time delivery targets.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, regulatory, and environmental requirements (e.g., GMPs, HACCP, OSHA, FDA/USDA as applicable).
• Lead and develop a management team and hourly workforce; drive engagement, accountability, and performance management.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to safety, quality, productivity, waste, labor efficiency, and cost control.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Quality, R&D, Engineering, and HR to support business objectives and new initiatives.
• Manage plant budgets, forecasts, and capital projects; ensure effective utilization of assets and resources.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure incident prevention, reporting, and corrective actions.
• Drive standardization, best practices, and operational discipline across shifts.

• Proven leadership experience in food or beverage manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated success managing a large, multi shift workforce (approximately 250 employees).
• Strong knowledge of food safety systems, quality standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and operational performance.
• Bachelor’s degree is not required; equivalent experience will be considered.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior responsibility for full P&L or plant level budget management.
• Exposure to unionized environments (if applicable).
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and data driven decision making.

Skills & Competencies 

• Strong people leadership and communication skills.
• Operational and financial acumen.
• Ability to lead change and influence across functions.
• Hands on, results oriented management style.

Reports to: General Manager