Plant Director

Plant Director – Manufacturing & Facility Operations

Company Information:

Calico Cottage is a long-standing, respected leader in food manufacturing, known globally for its fudge and confectionery products. We operate with a strong people-first culture and are committed to building disciplined, high-performing manufacturing operations that are safe, reliable, and sustainable.
We are seeking a Plant Director to lead our Belleville, IL facility — a critical role responsible for developing leaders, strengthening systems, and delivering consistent manufacturing performance.

Job Summary:

The Plant Director is the senior site leader responsible for overall manufacturing, maintenance, and facility performance at our Belleville, IL manufacturing facility. This is a critical leadership role focused on developing leaders, strengthening operating systems, and delivering consistent, predictable manufacturing results.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Plant Director directly leads the Plant Manager and Maintenance Manager and is accountable for plant-level performance, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement. While Supply Chain and Food Safety & Quality functions are supported by centralized corporate teams, this role owns execution and coordination at the site level.

This position is well-suited for an experienced manufacturing leader who excels at building structure, setting clear expectations, and driving accountability through disciplined operating rhythms—rather than managing day-to-day shift activities.

Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Development: Lead, coach, and develop the Plant Manager and Maintenance Manager, building a strong leadership bench and fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and teamwork.
• Plant Performance Ownership: Own plant-level performance metrics including OTIF, labor efficiency, yield, downtime, and overall manufacturing cost (COGS).
• Operating Discipline: Establish and maintain a disciplined operating system with clearly defined KPIs, standard reviews, and performance accountability.
• Manufacturing & Maintenance Oversight: Ensure manufacturing, maintenance, and facility operations are reliable, safe, efficient, and audit-ready at all times.
• Equipment Reliability: Drive preventive maintenance discipline and asset care to reduce unplanned downtime and improve long-term equipment performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with centralized Supply Chain and Food Safety & Quality teams to ensure effective execution of corporate standards at the site level.
• Continuous Improvement: Champion continuous improvement initiatives and strengthen problem-solving capability throughout the plant.
• Food Safety & Compliance: Ensure food safety, GMP, HACCP, SQF, and regulatory requirements are executed daily without compromise.
• Culture & Engagement: Build and sustain high levels of employee morale, engagement, and ownership across the facility.

What Success Looks Like:

• Predictable, reliable manufacturing performance
• A strong and developing leadership team
• High morale and engagement across the plant
• Improved labor efficiency, yield, and cost stability
• Reduced unplanned downtime and strong asset reliability
• Consistent audit readiness and a deeply rooted food safety culture

Qualifications:

Required:

• 10 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing or similar process-driven environments
• Proven experience leading manufacturing and maintenance teams
• Strong understanding of cooked or thermal manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated success building structure, KPIs, and accountability in developing or transitioning operations
• Track record of improving labor efficiency, yield, equipment reliability, and cost performance
• Working knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, SQF, and food safety regulatory requirements
• Proven ability to develop leaders and build high-performing teams

Preferred:

• Experience in confectionery, sauces, or viscous product manufacturing
• Experience leading under-structured or transforming facilities
• ERP system experience (Business Central or similar)
• Background in continuous improvement or operational excellence methodologies

Leadership Profile:

The ideal Plant Director is a leader who:

• Develops people and future leaders
• Leads with calm, clarity, and accountability
• Builds sustainable systems rather than relying on heroics
• Is technically credible without being hands-on day-to-day
• Values teamwork, discipline, and continuous improvement

Compensation & Benefits:

As an integral member of our leadership team, you will enjoy a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Competitive base salary
• Annual performance-based bonus opportunity
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Work Location:
Onsite – Belleville, IL

Employment Type:
Full-Time/Salary

Salary Range: $100,000-$140,000.

Calico Cottage, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin