Plant Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:  

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Plant Manager serves as the senior leader responsible for the overall operational performance of a high-volume snack food manufacturing plant. This role oversees all day-to-day plant activities and is accountable for safety, quality, service, cost, people, and culture. The Plant Manager leads cross-functional teams across production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, planning, and sanitation to ensure the efficient production of high-quality products in alignment with company standards and financial targets. This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, translating company objectives into daily plant operations while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement. The Plant Manager plays a critical role in delivering the production plan, enhancing productivity and profitability, and fostering a safe, engaged, and high-performing workforce. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

• Leads and manages all aspects of plant operations, including production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, planning, and sanitation, to ensure the safe, efficient, and timely manufacturing of high-quality products.  

• Establishes and sustains a strong safety culture by promoting a zero-injury mindset; ensure full compliance with all OSHA, FDA, GMP, HACCP, and environmental regulations through proactive programs, audits, and corrective actions.  

• Delivers the production plan on time and in full by optimizing operational performance, including OEE, labor efficiency, yield, and waste reduction, while identifying and eliminating constraints and bottlenecks.  

• Partners with Quality to uphold the highest food safety and product standards; ensure adherence to all quality systems, maintain audit readiness, and lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality deviations.  

• Builds, leads, and develops a high-performing team by recruiting, training, and coaching supervisors and frontline employees; fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement, while supporting succession planning and positive employee/labor relations.  

• Owns and manages the plant’s financial performance, including the operating budget, labor and overtime costs, waste, and conversion costs; monitor expenditures and drive cost-effective operations aligned with business objectives.  

• Champions continuous improvement initiatives by implementing Lean manufacturing principles, 5S, and structured problem-solving methodologies; lead kaizen events and leverage data and KPIs to drive performance and decision-making.  

• Ensures equipment reliability and optimal facility performance through strong partnership with maintenance; oversee preventive maintenance programs and manage capital improvement projects to support operational efficiency and long-term growth.  

• Collaborates cross-functionally with Planning, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, and Distribution to align materials, staffing, and maintenance plans with production needs, including support for new product introductions and process changes.  

• Tracks, analyzes, and reports key performance indicators related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people; communicate performance and improvement plans effectively to senior leadership.  

• Performs other duties and special projects assigned to support plant operations and organizational objectives. 

COMPETENCIES:  

To perform this job successfully, the Plant Manager must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to solve problems while staying focused on priorities. The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required: 

• Excellent planning, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to balance production and maintenance priorities.  

• Proven leadership and team-building abilities, including advanced coaching, employee development, and motivation skills.  

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills.  

• Adaptable and flexible, able to navigate change and respond to evolving operational needs.  

• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.  

• Collaborative, with the ability to lead team-based decision-making processes.  

• Highly motivated, results-oriented, and driven to achieve operational excellence.  

• Alignment with and passion for the company’s mission, vision, values, and operating principles. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:   

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Management, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred. Equivalent experience will also be considered.  

• Minimum of 7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, preferably in CPG or food production, with prior experience leading a plant or large production operation.  

• Proven track record in safety management, including implementing and enforcing safety systems and ensuring compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards.  

• Extensive experience managing food quality systems and adhering to GMP and other industry requirements.  

• Strong operational knowledge of manufacturing processes, maintenance, and engineering principles, with demonstrated practical application.  

• Experience managing budgets, expenses, and cost performance, with solid financial and accounting understanding.  

• Hands-on experience with continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, 5S, Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt preferred), or similar process improvement frameworks.  

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with enterprise systems such as SAP or JD Edwards is a plus.