Plant Manager

Plant Manager

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, operational performance, and financial success of the manufacturing facility. This position oversees all aspects of plant operations including production, maintenance, quality assurance, food safety, inventory management, workforce development, safety compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Plant Manager serves as the senior on-site leader and is accountable for achieving operational excellence while maintaining the highest standards of employee safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. This role collaborates closely with Executive Leadership, Supply Chain, Logistics, Customer Service, Accounting, Human Resources, Quality, and Maintenance teams to ensure the facility meets production goals, customer demands, and organizational objectives.

The Plant Manager is responsible for building a high-performing culture focused on safety, accountability, operational efficiency, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Management

• Provide overall leadership and direction for all plant operations, ensuring alignment with company goals, performance objectives, and growth initiatives.
• Lead, develop, coach, and mentor management, supervisory, and production teams while fostering a culture of accountability, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop succession plans, workforce strategies, and employee development programs to ensure long-term organizational success.
• Partner with executive leadership on capital projects, facility expansions, process improvements, and strategic planning initiatives.

Operations & Production Management

• Direct all production, maintenance, sanitation, inventory, and operational activities to achieve safety, quality, productivity, and profitability objectives.
• Monitor plant performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives that drive operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and cost reduction.
• Collaborate with Maintenance teams to ensure effective preventive maintenance programs and minimize operational downtime.

Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with all OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards.
• Maintain compliance with SQF, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, customer, and internal quality requirements.

Financial & Business Management

• Manage plant budgets, labor planning, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and financial performance.
• Partner with Accounting and Finance to analyze operational costs, monitor key financial metrics, and identify opportunities for improved profitability and efficiency.
• Ensure accurate inventory management and responsible stewardship of company assets and resources.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain, Logistics, Customer Service, Quality, Human Resources, and Accounting teams to support production schedules, customer requirements, and business objectives.
• Coordinate inventory planning, material procurement, transportation activities, and customer fulfillment to ensure uninterrupted operations and exceptional service levels.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with vendors, customers, regulatory agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Staffing & Workforce Development

• Collaborate on recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and retention efforts for plant personnel.
• Ensure staffing levels support operational requirements while developing a highly skilled and engaged workforce.
• Promote employee development through coaching, training programs, leadership development, and succession planning initiatives.

Equipment & Facility Oversight

• Ensure the safe and efficient operation of plant equipment and facilities, including forklifts, front-end loaders, skid steers, and other industrial machinery.
• Oversee facility maintenance, asset management, and capital improvement projects to support operational excellence and future growth.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive manufacturing, processing, or production leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years of direct management experience leading supervisors and large production teams.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, workplace safety programs, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Experience managing budgets, labor planning, and operational financial performance.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and improving operational performance.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent food safety experience.
• USDA-regulated manufacturing experience.
• Forklift certification and operational experience.
• Front-end loader operation experience.
• Skid steer operation experience.
• Experience within agriculture, feed, pet food, food processing, rendering, or manufacturing environments.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement training.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in an office and plant floor environment with frequent movement between locations throughout the day.
• Regular exposure to production areas where noise levels may range from moderate to high.
• Exposure to varying temperatures, dust, odors, moving mechanical equipment, and outdoor weather conditions when performing plant inspections or overseeing operations.
• Frequent walking throughout the facility to monitor operations, conduct inspections, and support production activities.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, climb stairs, reach, push, pull, and use hands and arms to operate equipment and perform job duties.
• Ability to work safely around forklifts, front-end loaders, skid steers, conveyors, processing equipment, and other industrial machinery.
• May be required to operate industrial equipment, including forklifts, front-end loaders, skid steers, and other material handling equipment, as business needs dictate.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication methods.
• Ability to inspect equipment, review production processes, and perform visual quality assessments throughout the facility.
• Occasionally required to climb ladders, access elevated platforms, or enter confined operational areas while following all safety protocols.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May be required to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, or respond to operational emergencies as necessary to support plant operations.
• Occasional travel to other company facilities, customer locations, training events, or industry meetings may be required.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Team Building & Development
• Safety Leadership
• Financial Acumen
• Continuous Improvement
• Decision Making & Problem Solving
• Conflict Resolution
• Workforce & Succession Planning
• Communication & Collaboration
• Accountability
• Change Management