Plant Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the General Manager of Ag Operations at our Kapua Orchards facility in South Kona, Big Island, Hawaii, the Plant Manager oversees and supervises daily processing and plant operations. All of the product grown and processed at this facility is used in our Mauna Loa and Hawaiian Host products, two of Hawaii’s largest retail brands sold and distributed across the U.S. and Asia.

This role is accountable for human safety excellence, product quality, food safety protocols, production efficiency, high kernel recovery, cost management, maintenance, maintenance reliability, supplier accountability, warehousing, continuous improvement, and overall plant performance, driving improved yield and throughput. The Plant Manager role is a hands‑on job and works closely with front‑line employees, leads by example, and works closely with cross‑functional partners to ensure company targets are achieved.

• Oversee all stages of the macadamia nut processing flow: WIS receiving, drying, cracking, optical sorting, pasteurizing, roasting, manual sorting, and sizing.
• Leading all Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehousing, and Scheduling functions and managers at the site and working closely with the site Orchard Manager and site FSQA Manager while reporting to the site GM.
• Key Leadership
  
  Competencies:
  
  Strong People Leadership, Ability to Coach and Lead Change (in a challenging environment), Highly Adaptable to New Cultures, Strong Problem‑Solving Capability, Ability to Motivate and Inspire, and Ability to Hold Teams and Individuals Accountable to goals and business targets.
• Key Technical Experience and
  
  Competencies:
  
  Agricultural Plant Processing Management (Macadamia Nut Processing highly preferred), Optical Sorter Technology, Optimizing Manual Sorting, Labor Scheduling/Efficiency, Strong Maintenance/Engineering Experience (driving low downtime/high efficiency/high yield).
• Direct and manage all plant activities and goals, including but not limited to, execution of safety and quality programs (FDA, FSMA, HACCP, etc.), regulatory compliance, personnel development, training, production planning, scheduling, cost control, inventory control and FIFO management, and facilities and equipment repair and maintenance.
• Promote a safe, positive and inclusive workplace culture consistent with Hawaiian Host Group values of being United, Persevering, encouraging Bold ideas for improvement and Taking Initiative. The Plant Manager leads with integrity, respect, and servant leadership.
• Experience in running a Maintenance Department, including use of a CMMS and leveraging best practices to drive highly reliable preventive maintenance and summer and weekend overhaul work.
• Experience in continuous improvement, including Lean Manufacturing, line bottleneck constraint analysis and improvement, leading with daily metrics with employee engagement, and project management skills for process change deployment.
• Ensure alignment of plans and processes with strategic initiatives aimed at reducing processing costs through optimal utilization of resources. Collaborate with other departments to achieve business goals while surpassing customer expectations.
• Role also works closely on best practices with the other Hawaiian Host Group Plant Managers in the company and includes mentorship by the Chief Operating Officer.
• Coordinate plant operations with department managers to achieve processing objectives efficiently and within budget.
• Develop, implement, and monitor the plant budget, while increasing production and controlling spending.
• Implement cost‑effective systems and processes of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages, and salaries.
• Enhance workforce utilization through optimized operations and processes, ensuring adequate staffing levels, retention, and motivating, training, and equipping staff effectively.
• Strong floor presence up to 50% of time spent engaging with employees and monitoring overall plant performance, maintaining production and quality standards.
• Monitor overall plant performance, maintaining production and quality standards.
• Maintain plant facilities and equipment to ensure…