What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Plant Operations position at Adecco Permanent Recruitment?
Plant Operations, Director
A leading manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Director of Plant Operations to oversee all aspects of daily operations, drive performance excellence, and build a strong, accountable team culture. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about creating efficient, safe, and high-performing production systems.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Direct all plant functions including production, maintenance, quality, planning, warehousing, and safety.
- Ensure consistent execution of manufacturing processes across all shifts.
- Deliver products on time, in full, while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality.
Performance Management
- Lead the achievement of key operational KPIs (OEE, throughput, labor efficiency, waste reduction, downtime, schedule adherence).
- Conduct structured performance reviews and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain disciplined cost control and identify opportunities for savings and productivity gains.
People & Culture
- Coach and develop department managers and frontline leaders.
- Promote a culture of accountability, engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Ensure effective training, onboarding, and succession planning across the operations team.
Compliance & Safety
- Champion a zero-incident safety mindset throughout the facility.
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
- Strengthen adherence to food safety and quality management systems (BRC, SQF, GMP).
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Collaborate with the Business Director(counterpart) on capacity planning, resource alignment, and production priorities.
- Work closely with Finance, HR, and other support teams to ensure smooth and effective operations.
Success Metrics
- On-time, in-full delivery (OTIF)
- OEE and throughput improvements
- Labor and overtime cost control
- Waste and yield performance
- Safety and regulatory compliance
- Quality results (Right First Time, audit outcomes, customer feedback)
- Employee engagement and leadership development
Qualifications
- 10 years of progressive operations leadership in a food manufacturing environment
- Strong foundation in Lean manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement systems.
- Proven experience leading large, diverse teams and driving cross-functional results.
- Hands-on, practical leader capable of both strategic planning and daily operational management.
- Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.