Plant Manager

Job Summary

Our client is seeking a dynamic and experienced Plant Manager to oversee the daily operations of the manufacturing facility. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain management, quality assurance, and team leadership, along with a passion for delivering high-quality frozen products to customers.

The Plant Manager will be responsible for the strategic leadership, growth, and optimization of production lines, ensuring smooth and efficient operations while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Production Oversight :

• Manage all aspects of the manufacturing facility, ensuring efficient, timely, and high-quality output.
• Monitor daily production schedules, ensuring targets are met while maintaining safety and product quality.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement strategies to enhance production capacity, product quality, and operational efficiency.

Operational Strategy and Planning :

• Work with senior leaders to set long-term and short-term production goals, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Optimize production processes, implement best practices, and drive cost reduction initiatives without compromising quality.
• Partner in the forecasting and planning process for production volumes, materials, and staffing.

Maintenance and Engineering Partnership : Partner with the Engineering and Maintenance teams to :

• Oversee the maintenance program for production equipment and facilities, ensuring the prevention of downtime and maintaining operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement a preventative maintenance schedule for all production machinery, refrigeration systems, and other critical equipment.
• Be a liaison for relationships with external maintenance contractors and service providers to ensure timely repairs and servicing of equipment.
• Work closely with the maintenance team to troubleshoot and resolve equipment malfunctions, minimizing production disruptions.
• Ensure that maintenance operations comply with safety standards, industry regulations, and best practices.

Team Leadership and Development :

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of supervisors, managers, and production staff, ensuring alignment with company goals and values.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide coaching, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Promote a safe, healthy, and engaging workplace environment, addressing employee concerns and maintaining high morale.

Cost Management and Budgeting :

• Develop and manage budgets for production operations, working to meet or exceed financial targets.
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives to improve operational profitability.
• Monitor production costs, labor costs, and material expenses to ensure efficient use of resources.

Health & Safety Standards :

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal safety regulations, including OSHA standards.
• Promote a culture of safety on the production floor, with regular training and safety audits.
• Address any safety incidents promptly and implement corrective actions.

Collaboration and Communication :

• Coordinate with other departments (engineering, supply chain, quality, sales, marketing, R&D, and distribution to ensure alignment on production goals and timelines.
• Report regularly to senior leadership on key performance metrics, including production efficiency, quality, and cost control.
• Participate in the development of new product initiatives, providing operational insights for production feasibility.

Food Safety Responsibilities :

• Ensure all frozen novelty products meet established safety, quality, and regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, HACCP, USDA).
• Partner with Quality leadership to develop and implement quality control protocols, inspection procedures, and corrective actions to maintain product excellence.
• Participate in regular audits and inspections of production facilities, addressing issues proactively.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English is highly preferred to effectively communicate with team members.
• Bachelor's (or equivalent experience) in Manufacturing Operations, Industrial Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• P&L, budgeting, knowledge and responsibility
• 10+ years of food manufacturing experience preferably in wet food – dairy products.
• Demonstrated experience working with LEAN Manufacturing Principles.
• Working mechanical knowledge of equipment.
• Must be familiar with GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices) and QC standards required in a food packaging environment.
• Experience hiring, leading and developing an effective production team.
• Must be able to manage multiple tasks and balance competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Proven experience maintaining or implementing metrics to measure and manage performance.
• Effective written communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence up, down and across organization levels.
• Strong MS Office skills (Excel, Word, and Outlook)
• Strong planning and prioritization skills.
• Adaptable, resilient, flexible, fast-paced / sense of urgency.