Plant Manager

Job Summary:

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading manufacturing operations to achieve safety, environmental, quality, and efficiency performance targets. This role provides strategic and day-to-day leadership across Packaging, Blending, Quality Control, Maintenance, and site Warehouse functions, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives, strategies, and values.

This leader must be highly capable of managing and developing other leaders, building operational discipline, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.

Duties/Responsibilities:

·        Operational Leadership

• Lead all plant operations to meet or exceed production, cost, efficiency, and schedule targets.
• Align Packaging, Blending, QC Laboratory, Maintenance, and site Warehouse functions to ensure seamless execution from production through shipment to distribution center.
• Establish daily, weekly, and monthly performance management cadence with clear KPIs.
• Drive cross-functional accountability and remove operational bottlenecks.
• Planning & Execution
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, and Procurement to align production with demand and material availability.
• Monitor daily/weekly production schedules and adjust as needed to meet customer requirements.
• Manage capacity, resources, and staffing to support both current demand and long-term growth.
• Efficiency & Cost Management
• Improve labor productivity, asset utilization, and throughput.
• Lead initiatives to reduce waste, downtime, and non-value-added activities.
• Lead Preventative Maintenance and Reliability Maintenance processes
• Support capital planning and operational expansion initiatives.
• Safety, Environmental, & Quality
• Champion safety programs and ensure a culture of zero incidents.
• Ensure all operations adhere to quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with QC leadership to maintain product integrity and release timelines.
• Foster a culture of right-first-time production.
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Directly manage and coach functional managers.
• Develop leadership capability within Packaging, Blending, QC Laboratory, and site Warehouse teams.
• Build succession plans and leadership bench strength.
• Create a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Continuous Improvement
• Drive Lean, process optimization, and data-driven decision making.
• Implement standardized processes and performance dashboards.
• Lead problem-solving initiatives using structured methodologies.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Operational Thinking
• Leader of Leaders
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Accountability & Performance Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Change Management
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field (preferred) OR equivalent experience
• 8 years of manufacturing leadership experience, with 3 years in plant, production or operations management
• 3 years leading other managers or supervisors.
• Strong understanding of safety programs, production planning, quality systems, and warehouse operations.
• Demonstrated success improving efficiency, and cost performance.
• Proven ability to build, mentor, and develop leaders.
• ERP/IFS experience strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements:

·        Ability to sit, stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday, including walking across large manufacturing areas.

·        Ability to use a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods.

·        Ability to climb stairs and ladders to access different facility areas if needed.

·        Ability to work in varying environmental conditions when entering production, warehouse, or outdoor areas.

·        Required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, steel-toe boots, or hearing protection when in manufacturing or production areas.