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Plant Manager - Dairy & Food Manufacturing

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead operations at our dairy and food manufacturing facility. The Plant Manager will be responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient production while maintaining high standards for product quality and regulatory compliance with FDA and USDA requirements. This role requires strong leadership, operational excellence, and experience in dairy or related food manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all daily plant operations to meet production schedules, quality standards, and cost targets.
• Ensure full compliance with FDA and USDA regulations, as well as company food safety programs (HACCP, FSMA, SQF/BRC as applicable).
• Develop and implement production plans, staffing schedules, and inventory controls to optimize throughput and reduce waste.
• Lead, coach, and develop plant supervisors and frontline staff to build a high-performing, safety-focused team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• Maintain and enforce sanitation, GMPs, and preventive maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability and product safety.
• Manage plant budgets, capital projects, and cost control measures, including labor, utilities, and raw materials.
• Coordinate with quality assurance and R&D teams on product development, process validations, and corrective actions for non-conformances.
• Oversee supplier relationships and incoming material inspections to ensure ingredients meet specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor and report key performance indicators (OEE, yield, downtime, safety metrics) and present performance updates to senior management.
• Lead incident response, root cause investigations, and recall procedures if necessary, maintaining accurate documentation for audits and inspections.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of manufacturing experience with at least 3 years in a plant leadership role; experience in dairy or food manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations, FSMA requirements, and food safety systems such as HACCP and SQF/BRC.
• Proven experience implementing continuous improvement programs (Lean, Six Sigma) and driving measurable operational improvements.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills with experience in hiring, training, and developing union and/or non-union work forces.
• Financial acumen with experience managing plant-level budgets, P&L responsibility, and capital planning.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, production planning tools, and basic data analysis to track KPIs.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule including shift coverage and respond to plant emergencies as needed.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• PTO
• 401k

For this position you must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We do not sponsor for this position.