Plant Manager

Plant Manager

Summary

The Plant Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing operations within the facility. This role is responsible for delivering business results across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People while building a high-performance culture focused on operational excellence, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.

The Plant Manager leads the site leadership team to drive operational performance, develop talent, improve processes, and ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently, and in alignment with company goals and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Lead all aspects of plant operations to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable production while meeting quality standards and customer commitments.

Establish clear operational priorities and align plant resources to achieve performance targets across safety, quality, service, cost, and employee engagement.

Drive accountability throughout the leadership team for operational performance, problem solving, and continuous improvement.

People Leadership & Culture

Build and sustain a high-performing leadership team through coaching, development, and performance management.

Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Partner with Human Resources to support workforce planning, employee engagement, talent development, and retention strategies.

Ensure effective communication across all levels of the organization to align employees with plant and company objectives.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Lead the implementation and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve productivity.

Use data-driven decision making to identify opportunities for operational improvement and cost reduction.

Establish performance metrics and dashboards to monitor plant performance and drive corrective actions when necessary.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner closely with Procurement, Supply Chain, Sales, Distribution, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Human Resources to align operational capabilities with customer demand and business strategy.

Support the development and execution of go-to-market strategies by ensuring manufacturing capacity and operational readiness.

Ensure strong collaboration between departments to optimize workflow, equipment utilization, and production planning.

Financial & Strategic Management

Develop and manage plant operating and capital budgets while ensuring financial performance aligns with business objectives.

Lead capital planning and execution of facility improvement projects to support growth, efficiency, and modernization.

Drive initiatives that improve cost performance, operational efficiency, and overall plant profitability.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with all company policies and applicable local, state, and federal regulations related to safety, environmental, and operational standards.

Maintain strong product quality and inventory control processes to protect product integrity and company reputation.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field required.

Experience

Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in plant management or manufacturing operations.

Experience in food & beverage, consumer products, or similar manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.

Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence programs.

Skills & Competencies

Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and motivate high-performing teams.

Strategic thinker capable of aligning operational execution with business objectives.

Strong analytical and financial acumen including experience managing budgets, capital investments, and P&L performance.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels.

Proven ability to drive change, challenge traditional processes, and implement innovative solutions.

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Working Conditions

This position operates primarily within a manufacturing environment and may include exposure to wet or humid conditions, airborne particles, chemicals, allergens, and varying temperatures.

Language Skills

English is required. Bilingual capability may be beneficial.