Position Summary:
This role is a key partner to the Plant Director by providing day-to-day leadership and direction to manufacturing operations and being the liaison between the plant and cross-functional business partners. The Plant Operations Manager executes at a high level, safely, and in a manner that optimizes manufacturing costs while meeting company product quality/outputs to standards.
Zero Defects mind set.
Essential Functions:
- Provide leadership to the plant in all areas of responsibility including and not limited to receiving, converting, packaging, quality, maintenance, and storage/distribution.
- Support plant leadership in overseeing the overall activities of the manufacturing facilities of the plant to ensure all orders are planned, scheduled, produced, and shipped on and meet company and customer quality standards.
- Incorporate and foster continuous improvement by developing metrics with plant employees to determine the root cause of non-conformity with formulations or production planning; identify corrective measures to reduce waste (time and materials) in the plant; recommend preventative maintenance requirements to guarantee safe and efficient operation of equipment.
- Ensures that appropriate SOPs are developed, executed and maintained for all aspects of our business.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar role within food manufacturing or food packaging with demonstrated success in leading production teams and driving operational excellence.
- Strong understanding of conversion or packaging production processes, equipment, and technology, with the ability to troubleshoot issues and implement solutions.
- Proven leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and empower employees to achieve common goals. Experience in performance management, coaching, and talent development.
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
- An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and adapt to changing priorities and business needs.
- Thorough knowledge of food safety regulations such quality standards (e.g., GMP, HACCP), and industry best practices.
- Strong business acumen, with a focus on achieving targets for production output, quality, cost control, and customer satisfaction.
- Proactive approach to identifying challenges and implementing effective solutions to improve processes and performance.
- The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, hands-on leader, and collaborative team player.